Instead of Timothy’s feeling shame, Paul wanted him to suffer for the sake of the gospel. The power of the Holy Spirit can produce a strength that bears suffering. Paul knew that divine help was available, and he wanted Timothy to use it richly.

The purpose of salvation is that each believer might produce a life of obedience and holiness to God instead of self. The basis of this salvation is the purpose and grace of God, not human merit.

The availability of God’s sovereign grace through Christ would brace the wavering resolve of Timothy. It was also important for Timothy to recall that God’s saving purpose had been at work before the world was founded

believers are called out of the world to begin a new experience of commitment in living fellowship with God and other believers.

The comfort that Paul has in mind has nothing to do with a languorous feeling of contentment. It is not some tranquilizing dose of grace that only dulls pains but a stiffening agent that fortifies one in heart, mind, and soul. Comfort relates to encouragement, help, exhortation. God’s comfort strengthens weak knees and sustains sagging spirits so that one faces the troubles of life with unbending resolve and unending assurance

Thomas à Kempis wrote, “All human comfort is vain and short.” Not so with God’s comfort; it takes many forms but can always match the suffering. God can deliver us “out of affliction” or encourage us “in affliction” so that we can endure it

We also learn from Paul who the true source of comfort is. Affliction can come from many sources, but real comfort in every affliction can only come from God alone. Abandoning Christ might seem to offer an escape from suffering, but suffering comes also to unbelievers, and abandoning Christ means that one has also abandoned the only source of comfort. Lapide observes that “the sufferings of the world are vinegar without honey, and as they increase, so do desolation and mourning and woe.” God’s comfort does not always remove the affliction, but God gives us the grace to face it through

The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to comfort us

Paul gives the reasons for his blessing God in the first half of this verse: “God comforts in all our troubles.” In the second half he gives the purpose behind the comfort he receives: “in order that we can comfort others in every affliction.” Paul does not theorize in general terms about God’s comfort. He has in mind specific incidences in which he experienced God’s deliverance from affliction

Fourth, and most important, Paul’s experience has taught him that God comforts him so that he can be a comfort to others. God’s comfort is not intended to stop with us. God always gives a surplus, and God intends it to overflow to others. It is given not just to make us feel better but to bolster us for the task of fortifying others to face suffering

We can also experience God’s comfort by witnessing its power in the lives of others. Kruse reminds us, “The testimony of God’s grace in one’s life is a forceful reminder to others of God’s ability and willingness to provide the grace and strength they need.” It is a comfort to see those undergoing trouble reaching out to comfort others. Their valiant example emboldens others

We also experience God’s comfort by caring for others even when we are in the midst of suffering. Sometimes the sudden onslaught of affliction may tempt one to retreat into a shell, to shut oneself off from others. The suffering, however, then becomes purposeless. Those who focus only on themselves are the most miserable of people. The persons who turn their pain to helping others can redirect and conquer that pain

Paul stood convinced (same word as “persuaded” of v. 5) that divine power could preserve him. Paul knew that he had placed his faith in a living person who would never disappoint him