the God of all comfort

I read Romans 9 this morning, but verses from 2 Corinthians keep coming to my mind.   It's because I can't stop thinking about the family of Steven Curtis Chapman.  I am joining people all over the world in prayer as we lift up this wonderful family.  The Chapman's youngest daughter Maria was killed last week in the family's driveway when one of their teenage son's SUV accidentally hit her.  You can read more about it here.

When we lived in Nashville some friends of ours were in a terrible and tragic car accident in which they lost a young daughter.  Our church surrounded the family with love and support and prayer.  It was an experience I will never forget.  The memorial service was overflowing with people who shared in their sorrow.  Steven Curtis Chapman sang at the service.  I was reading about the community that has surrounded the Chapman family over the past week.  Those friends who walked through tragedy almost ten years ago are now there with the Chapmans, offering comfort that they are uniquely able to offer.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.