Comfort: Caringly responding to a hurting person through words, actions, emotional responses, and physical touch; hurting with and for others in the midst of their grief or pain. (Romans 12: 15 NASB; Matthew 5:4: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
I have sat down at my computer to write this everyday for a week and have struggled to write anything. I have deleted and deleted, closed my computer and came back later, I’ve prayed (with no success) to ask God to give me what I should write but my focus has been off.
My dear friend Dave, you know him Dave Lewis 😉 haha said to me, ” Isn’t it amazing that when you’re trying to write about comfort that you would struggle with feeling down?” The enemy is real, friends, and we are in a battle daily!
As I prayed this morning I decided to nix everything I have been trying to write this past week and just be open and vulnerable with you. I am just going to share my own struggle this week and my need for comfort. This week’s focus is on meeting the need for comfort in believers and others, and I know those around us are in need of comfort – but sometimes it is not easy to know.
I struggle with depression, I have since I was a young girl. Most of the time I am just fine, but every once in awhile that dark cloud creeps in for a visit. I am not sure what brings it on or how it passes, but I can tell you it is an inward, spiritual, emotional battle. The reason I said it is not always easy to know when someone needs comfort is because often we/I try to hide it. Honestly, I am embarrassed by it. If you were to look into my life, I am extremely blessed, and I know that I am; yet…the darkness hangs over my head. I try to push through and pray it away, but the truth is, I feel alone even though I am not physically alone.
I am not a fan of putting my heart out there, but what I want you to hear is that those sitting next to you in church, living in your neighborhood, working with you or for you, your best friend, and / or your spouse may be alone inside and in desperate need of comfort. We can’t know what someone is going through in life without that person sharing the struggle with us, but if you see something suspicious …..ask.
My husband has been saying for awhile now, “Are you OK? Something is not right.” I thought I was fine and told him so, but as the days went on the cloud got darker. He knew before I did that something wasn’t right with me. Though I don’t have a specific reason for the cloud, it is nice to have his comfort and reassurance.
What are you struggling, friend, sickness, finances, depression….. , etc.? Would you be vulnerable and share your struggle today with someone you love or someone you know cares about you? Don’t feel you will be a burden or feel selfish asking for it, God has created this need in all of us! He also wants you to come to Him and receive His comfort! The Holy Spirit is The Comforter and offers us His presence personally or comfort through another person.
Matthew 11:28-30 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
I have had a very difficult time praying. I have basically been shooting prayers up, “God help me! Tell me what’s wrong! I need you!” I have tried to read scripture, but my mind will not stay focused. You know what friends, that is OK! God knows our heart, He knows where we are. Keep going to Him even if all feels silent in heaven. This is when your faith comes in and a time to remember all the past times God has comforted you. He has, hasn’t He? He has done it directly and / or He has brought His presence through one of His other children.
Psalm 77 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I consider the days of old, the years long ago. I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.” Then my spirit made a diligent search: “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” [ b ] I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled. The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side. The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook. Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
God is amazing! As I write this, I feel comforted. My prayer is that you will feel comfort too! In my view, I see the enemy’s hand trying to convince us that we have to comfort ourselves. . We have a hard time looking out when all we see is our inward pain. Don’t let satan whisper that you should be ashamed to feel the way you do! He wants you to keep it a secret! Maybe that is why I feel comfort now because I am bringing it out into the light! I am not trying to keep it in based on my fear of what people will think of me (though this is still a struggle – I am trusting God in it!)
Let’s pay a little closer attention to those around us. God may just show you a glimpse of someone walking through pain and invite you to be His arms, His words, His kindness and His comfort. That is the biggest amazement to me – that God chooses to use His sons and daughters to be His light to one another.
Let His Light shine!