How can we best comfort people who are hurting in this world?
The best comfort for hurting people in this cursed world is to proclaim the Word of God to them. Scripture says speaking forth God’s Word edifies, lifts up, supports, exhorts, encourages, and comforts. This is how believers can encourage and comfort the hurting.
Les explains that we are in this old world under the curse, and a lot of people are hurting. He asks how we can best comfort them, and his answer is: by proclaiming to them the Word of God. Earlier he stressed that the gift believers should really long for is the gift of speaking the Word of God—that is the number one criteria. Then in verse 3 the same point is reemphasized: he who speaks forth the Word of God speaks unto men to edification, to lift them up, to support them, to exhort them, to encourage them, and to comfort them. So true comfort is connected to declaring God’s Word.