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; Matthew 5:4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
Meeting the Need for COMFORT in the Church Family
A friend of mine, who worked in the same building with me years ago, had an unusual way of answering just about any question you asked him. He constantly had his ear-buds inserted and apparently his music playing at a high volume. Since most people asked him the same question, my friend had a common answer whether he’d heard the question or not. Several times I asked him a specific question or made a comment to him, only to get this response, “Fine, and you?”
A common question asked when we Christians come together is this: “How are you doing?” The usual response is “Fine. And you?”
Years ago I was told that FINE stands for Freaked-out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Extremely Emotional. Now when I am asked, “How are you doing?” my usual response is “Doing well” or “I’m good. And you?” I have not heard any strange acrostics for GOOD…yet.
But some, actually I believe many, people are not really FINE or DOING GOOD/WELL. In fact there is much loneliness, hurt, and insecurity in this world even inside a local body of believers. Do you agree?
In our quest to share the Gospel with people here and around the world, we are discovering many people who are truly born again, but so many don’t know how to resolve pain, sadness, disappointment, fear, condemnation, and anger. Carrying those emotions around prevents our experiencing joy and stands in direct conflict with what Jesus intends for us to experience.
Walk in the Light of Jesus
Jesus comforted many of the people He met in various ways. Sometimes He spoke words and sometimes His being near them was enough to remove their aloneness. Think of the woman who was brought to Jesus after she had been “caught in the very act of adultery”. When she was placed before Jesus and the crowd, I wonder if she knew the leaders were trying to use her to catch Jesus in some way to accuse Him. How lonely she must have been there in the middle – between the crowd and Jesus. She was being used….again. I wonder how desperate she felt, how totally alone she felt realizing there was not one person in the crowd who would take her side or help her; not one person among the teachers of the law who would come to her aid. Would Jesus help her? He was only one man against the crowd. Jesus surprised her and the crowd. He didn’t answer the barbed question immediately. He said he’d answer if there would be one man to cast a stone substantiating that he, the stone thrower, had not sinned. No stone was thrown. No accuser was left staring viciously at the woman.
Whether standing by her or kneeling beside her, Jesus shattered her painful loneliness, entered her desperate situation, and offered forgiveness and a loving command: “go and sin no more”.
Have you ever been so wrong and so alone against your accusers that you saw no way out but substantial loss, pain, or hopelessness? I hope you’ve never experienced that kind of aloneness and desperation, but if you have or if you ever do, please remember Jesus ” lives to make intercession for you”. (Hebrews 7:25).
Would you picture Jesus standing beside you as you kneel on the ground? Would you then see Him kneel beside you and look into your face? Whether you are seeing the situation the adulterous woman faced or your own personal trial, would you take a few moments to read the following passage from Psalm 34? Ask Jesus to come into the situation to remove your aloneness, and help you to be willing and ready to comfort others whose situation may be equally desperate. Being alone against the crowd or against overwhelming odds requires Jesus’ loving presence regardless of the particular circumstances involved.
Psalm 34: 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Walk in the light of God’s Word Let’s experience 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. Let’s Do The Book!
Please read the following: 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.
Question #1: Have you ever been comforted by our Father? What does comfort look and feel like? Some of us know the tender presence of a father or mother or sibling or grandparent who came close when we were hurt or rejected or betrayed. Some have not experienced that kind of comfort at all. They have been left to manage for themselves even though others may have been in proximity.
Experience 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Question #1: I would like for you to think of a time when you felt alone or rejected. Would you get quiet and if possible get by yourself? I want you to pray and speak with your Father in heaven. You might say something like this: “Father, when ______(loss, pain, disappointment)______ happened to me I felt so alone and rejected. I didn’t know where to turn for comfort then, but today, right now, I call on you as the Lord of mercy and the God of all comfort. (You may want to read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 again.). Father, you know my heart and the sadness, disappointment, and fear I have experienced. Please bring your comforting presence in the middle of the loneliness and rejection I felt and still feel. Bring me close and securely carry me into a place where I know I am not alone now, nor was I alone then. Your loving presence and the knowledge of your love for me are removing my sadness and pain. You are relieving my fears. I thank You. I love You.
You are “doing the book” and walking in the light of God’s Word as you receive comfort from the “God of all comfort”. I know it blesses the heart of God to see us “do His Word” and receive with a thankful heart the gifts He offers.
Walk in the Light of Real Fellowship
(Please experience this with your spouse/friend/child/ fellow Christian or non-Christian.)
Question #2: Would you be willing to ask your spouse/other about some of the details of a time when he/she felt very alone or afraid or rejected? After asking the question and listening attentively without interruptions, would you tell him/her that your heart was saddened by their story, that it hurts you to know that they felt that way? Would you please not offer advice, compare your similar story to theirs, or try to fix their situation unless they ask for help? Many who have been hurt simply need to know that someone actually cares and will hear them out without trying to advise or manage their situation. You are doing the second part of 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 when you “comfort others with the very same comfort with which you have been comforted by God.”
You and I may not know this side of heaven what it meant to your spouse/friend/relative when you listened and offered comfort. Thank you for venturing into an area of life that too few dare to enter.