“Each day has enough trouble of its own.” These words, found in Matthew 6:34 and spoken by Jesus about 2,000 years ago, remind us that in regards to trouble nothing has really changed.
We all face some sort of trouble every day…. Some more than
others, and some more serious than others…. But trouble still.
But what can we do to help? I think to start with that we should consider the word “comfort” ….
One dictionary definition of the word is this... "the easing or alleviation of a person's feeling of grief or distress".
I love what L.B. Cowman wrote in the January 11 entry in her book Streams
in the Desert: 366 Daily Devotional Readings …. “God comforts us not to
make us comfortable but to make us comforters”
If you’re alive and breathing then you have survived some sort of trouble in the form of grief or distress, and you can use that experience to extend comfort to someone.
In a conversation between King Hezekiah and Isaiah about the desire for peaceful and stable times for the land of Judah…. Isaiah 40:1 says…. "Comfort, comfort My people," says your God. (Isa 40:1 CSB)
…..and the chapter ends with these words… Do you not know? Have you not heard? Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary; there is no limit to His understanding. He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless. Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint. (Isa 40:28-31 CSB)
So, the quote again from “Streams in the Desert” …. “God comforts us not to make us comfortable but to make us comforters” …. That sounds like what Paul wrote to the Corinthians… Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2Co 1:3-4 CSB)
How can we comfort someone in today’s times? Back a little over 2 years ago when I was so sick, several people from church sent me regular text messages of encouragement…. daily from some. You can’t imagine how comforting and healing that was.
So, start with a text, a card, a phone call, a video chat –
whatever works. Just don’t let what you’ve experienced go to naught.
Pray that GOD will lead you to comfort someone today.
Peace and comfort from my house to yours.
Paul.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Used by Permission HCSB ©1999,2000,2002,2003,2009 Holman Bible Publishers. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
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