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)
Funny wasn’t it? It is funny because it rings true. Why do we want to fix hurt with advice? We want to give a reason or directions on how to fix the hurt, but that just leaves us feeling frustrated and alone. Hurt needs comfort if hurt is going to eventually be diminished or resolved.
THREE SOURCES OF LIGHT – Help Us Experience Comfort
Light Source #1: Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12)
Walking in the Light: Having a fresh encounter with Jesus.
Did you know that God cares to comfort you so much that He gave you the Holy Spirit, The Comforter? For those that know Christ as their personal Savior, He has placed The Comforter within them! That’s amazing!
John 14: 15-21
” If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate (Comforter in KJV) to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
How has the Holy Spirit been your comforter? Are you aware that one of His roles is to bring comfort to you?
In Romans 8:26: I n the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
Have you ever been so distraught that you actually relied on The Spirit to be your advocate and translate your jumbled thoughts or lack of the exact words to your Father in heaven? Did He bring you comfort? Holy Spirit can and will let you know that God is with you and you are not alone in your situation. I have been there and did find comfort as promised.
God promised us The Comforter years ago. Do you think The Comforter is active today?
Light Source #2: God’s Word is a lamp and a light, so walk in the light of frequent experiences of doing His Word. Psalm 119: 105
Let’s do:Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Is your spouse going through a difficult time? Maybe you can use this verse as a comfort to him/her. Don’t try to fix what is hurting by trying to give a solution to the problem but give assurance that God is right there with you as you walk through this together.. Listen to your spouse and identify his/her needs. Be present and give comfort as needed.
Comfort is given by physical touch, a hug, a caress, and also by your words, “I am so sorry you are hurting.” Be sure to pray for and with your spouse or quietly be there to listen as he/she prays. Be a support.
No words can take away hurt but a caring, loving response can help your spouse to feel less alone in their pain. Your providing comfort builds intimacy in your marriage, and intimacy removes aloneness. Hurt can’t be quickly extracted from a heart, but it can be replaced with a loving connection to our Father and caring others. When we know we’re loved, hurt seems to hurt less over time.
Light Source #3: God’s people are sources of light so walk in real fellowship with Your Spouse: “the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14
If your spouse is going through a difficult time, maybe you can plan a special time to be together. You know your spouse, so…plan a night that would bring comfort to them. A nice dinner, a spa day, a quiet weekend away. Minister to their hurt. Why not ask your spouse how you can best serve and show love during the difficult time.
During times when comfort is needed, enter your spouse’s world and help as God removes aloneness and gives comfort. How exciting to realize that God loves you two so much that He’d allow one to bring His comfort to the other.
Too many couples don’t know how to do this very well and respond to stress in their spouse by giving advice, by avoiding the issue altogether, with criticism or complaints about their spouse being too emotional. These don’t help the situation or diminish the pain your spouse is experiencing. Comfort can come through a simple prayer, a calm response of care, and a listening ear. When advice is needed and it sometimes is needed (like the nail), advice can be given but not before “mourning with those who mourn”. Romans 12:15b
It is actually a biblical response.