Truly, those who have suffered are able to comfort those who are suffering. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
This weak, natural, decaying body is only temporary, but there is coming a day when we will no longer have this body, but one full of power, glory, honor, a spiritual body, a body that will last forever (1 Corinthians 15:42-49). And that the “light afflictions” which we endure for this moment works for us an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). In this new body, there will be no more sorrow, anguish, toil, grief, or pain (Revelation 20:4). Grief helps us to realize that there is a better life coming for the faithful.
The writer of the book of Hebrews, inspired of the Holy Spirit, wrote, “All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.” No one likes to go through difficult times. This passage makes it plain that suffering is not joyful but full of grief.