In Depth Devotions for Christians

God Gives Comfort

Prolong: I'm so sorry I've not been posting lately I actually have a few I need to type up and post in this book I guess you'd call it. But on May 20th I lost my grandmother and a very long and in-depth story later have been packing to move and going through a mini depression. But I felt lead to write this today and post asap. It kinda lets you into my past few months a little. I hope it helps and gives comfort to those who need that reminder God's still there and he's not done what he started. We are promised "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." Philippians 1:6. 

If you've not heard it yet today I love you but God Loves you more ~Net

God Gives Comfort

After I lost my grandmother God brought a very common scripture to mind one quoted to many a grieving family member or loved one left behind after a death.

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. I can remember several times in tears asking God why that verse because I sure as well didn’t feel any comfort or peace at least in those moments. No I felt pain, heartache, even lost and so raw from all of it. I’m not one to publicly display my feelings, much though I have relaxed some in recent years, I still tend to keep most of it bottled up to myself. So if you see me in tears it’s finally spilling out and I can’t hold it back. 

As we were finishing up 1st Corinthians in Sunday school recently I decided to read on to 2 Corinthians now at this point it’s been 3 months since God first gave me Matthew 5:4 and since my grandmother’s passing. RIGHT there in the first chapter 3rd verse God started talking to me again. 

~3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters,about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 11 And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.~

I remember as I started to read it to myself half laughing over verse 3 as the past 3 months came to mind, Yes I wasn’t in a padded cell rocking back and forth as I once thought I’d be I was semi sound of mind. A long way off from I’m sure even God’s plan for me but slowly getting there. As much as I’m sure there are times when my heavenly father has wanted to just pick me up from an army crawl and place me where he wants me, he's held back. 

But continuing on the next verse stuck out he allows us to go through these trails to comfort others. This was evident that same Monday when at our church’s food pantry a woman came through hurting between being an immigrant (legal) missing her family mourning her own mothers death just the year before and going through some hard times. God had to have brought her here to help me one understand why he gave me those verses and two help me find the comfort I needed. (as Paul often says all the glory to our heavenly father above) 

But the verses go on and Paul talks about Timothy and his journey to Asia and how they were challenged right and left almost to the point of near death. Matter of fact Paul says that they didn’t think they could endure it he expected to give up and die. Yet it was in those times that they learned to rely on God to see them through. I thought still laughing to myself how often I dramatized grandmom’s passing before she had gone thinking it would be to much to endure that I would not be able to go on. And frankly if not for those praying from me at the time of her passing I’m very much convinced that would have been the case strong woman or not. MY strength COMES from the LORD the maker of heaven and earth. It is not my own that is as certain as Christ's love for ALL mankind. But these verses got me thinking: “8b We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.”

That last sentence “BUT as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves.” How often did I rely on myself for comfort. Being completely honest MOST of the time which is not what we are called to do as Christians we are called to bare one another's burdens. Was I reaching out and talking with other brothers and sisters in Christ over how I felt no not really I was bottling it up and coping with it as best I could on my own… People that NEVER works out.

“And learned to rely on God, who raises the dead” Who RAISES the dead not just the ones who have stopped breathing and have no pulse but also the spiritually dead those who don’t know God or his love for them or who just don’t care. I remember stopping for a moment and God giving me that thought mine was well I’ve not seen him do that personally and neither time I’d have loved to see that, did he do it. Grant it, it was his will to heal in death which was a complete healing and a joyous reunion for those on the other side. My human flesh just wanted more time one more minute, hour, day, week, month, year, lifetime. But God (I love those two words especially in that order) told me it’s not just the physically dead that I raise it’s also the spiritually and you have seen that! 

The next verse is well a testament in and of itself. Paul says “ and he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again” God has promised to go before us and fight for us TO RESCUE us. I can’t help but be taken back to one of my last personal studies in 2 Samual 22:17-20 

“17“He reached down from heaven and rescued me;

he drew me out of deep waters.

18 He rescued me from my powerful enemies,

from those who hated me and were too strong for me.

19 They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,

but the Lord supported me.

20 He led me to a place of safety;

he rescued me because he delights in me.”

Right before this portion David talks of God being in a righteous anger coming down from heaven cloaking himself in a dark cloud and laying the foundations of the earth bare just to save David. If he did that for David who clearly had a few issues and clearly sinned but who genuinely repented of his sin how much more do you think God is willing to do to rescue us. And what’s better we are promised the Rescuer will never cease to rescue us as long as we place our confidence in him and the work of his son on Mt. Calvary. 

Paul ends this little portion by reminding the church in Corinth about how might prayer is. He says “ and you are helping by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks BECAUSE God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety” pause Paul just said that many join in your celebration when prayer is answered BECAUSE it is a testimony of God’s faithfulness. EVEN when we can’t see or feel it God’s working it out for our benefit and to his Glory. 

I still at times don’t feel his comfort and my flesh still mourns the the passing of my grandmother. But I watched her earthly battle losing a leg to diabetes and many other issues and I know now she’s with Jesus (so jelly about that) and she’s walking (more likely running) down those heavenly feet. In the presence of all the saints of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of Moses and All the other prophets. Just such a host of others. Truly happy and content. In that I find my peace not always my comfort my flesh will never truly be comforted till that day when Christ calls me home when I can join them. But that day weather it be when Jesus graces the clouds or he comes and takes me from this world. Whatever the cost I count it as lost and as a gain. For even the greatest suffered and were comforted. And in all this God still provided comfort and peace not of this world but of the Holy Spirit.