“Typhoon Frank covers 30,000 rooftops in Iloilo.”

COMFORT FOR THE TIMES – At the time of this writing, the death toll from typhoon “Frank” (international code name: Fensheng) Thursday jumped to near 500, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). 498 people were reported dead, 288 injured and 263 missing. The casualties excluded retrieved bodies from the M/V Princess of the Stars that was directly hit by Frank on Saturday and capsized off Sibuyan island in Romblon province.

At such times, we’re tempted to ask, “Why, God?” As Christians, we’re not immune from suffering–despite the pat, simplistic answers some Christians give to those going through trials: “You just need to exercise your faith!” “God healed me; he’ll heal you!” Maybe He will…or maybe not. Remember the story in Acts 12, when both Peter and James were imprisoned. Peter was delivered, but James was beheaded. So if God chooses not to heal or deliver or protect, the pat answers are inadequate at best.

My simple answer to the question, “Why do Christians suffer?” is “I don’t know.” But I do know this: People with broken hearts don’t need reasons; they need resources. They need someone to help bear the burden, and to walk with them under the load. That’s where you come in, especially if you have suffered in the same way. 2 Corinthians 2:3-42 Corinthians 2:3-4
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. ⁴ For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.  

WP-Bible plugin says,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

God doesn’t comfort us just so we can be comfortable. He comforts us so that we can become comforters. So we are to receive God’s comfort, and then to give that comfort to others.

How do we do that? As Romans 12:15Romans 12:15
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.  

WP-Bible plugin says, we should “weep with those who weep.” And we should “bear one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2Gal. 6:2
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.  

WP-Bible plugin). And we should always “pray for one another” (James 5:16James 5:16
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  

WP-Bible plugin). But don’t just pray for them. Pray with them. Right now, I’m sure you know someone who is suffering. Comfort them with the comfort you have received from God. Pray with them. Weep with them. Help them carry the load. They may never know, in this life, why the suffering came. But they will know the love of God as you show them His comfort.