2 Corinthians 1:3-8
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; 7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.
The word COMFORT in these verses is the word PARACLETE which the same word that is used for The Holy Spirit. I believe that The Lord is saying here that in our times of pain He comes to us in The person of The Holy Spirit to fill up those hurting places with affection, healing, and Divine strength. From those broken places in us, that have been surrendered to Him for healing grace, flows anointed ministry. Education is a real blessing, and God can use it in ministry, but real Spirit Filled ministry flows from The School of Christ, from where The Blessed Broken have graduated. When you’ve learned that in your weaknesses (those broken places) His strength is made perfect, then you are ministering supernatural life to other broken people. There is nothing more boring than a message full of exotic content, yet absent of the experienced testimony of His power to overcome in the most desperate places in our lives. I certainly want to know all about who He is, but more importantly, I want someone with personal experience to help me understand ALL that He can do. If you are walking through a time of suffering, seek Him, and allow Him to send His Holy Spirit to heal, overcome, and establish His strength in that weakened area. Not only will you have the joy of His healing grace, you will also have the foundation of authentic ministry.