II Corinthians 1:3 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 may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
Paul indeed suffered much for Christ. He did not shy away from saying so, nor did he pretend that his readers would not suffer. It is part of following Christ. But Paul also never whined and complained about his suffering, nor would he let his readers (and therefore us) do so either. Rather, he points us to the very character of God, the God of comfort. He is always there for us, just as He was His Son. After Christ's wilderness fasting and temptation, God sent His angels to comfort Him. Even on the cross, He did not leave Him alone. The same is true for us: the God of Comfort will always be there for us: through His Spirit, His angels, and His people.
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