“The God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles.” 2 Corinthians 1:3 NIV
“God holding you in His everlasting arms is the practical and tender picture of comfort.”
My thoughts today suggest “fragile, handle with care.”
Have you ever watched a mother comfort a sick or fussy child, or a father gather a frightened child into his arms? You were watching God at work. It’s amazing to see. The child may be sick, or restless, or frightened. Nothing or no one seems to help until that mom cuddles the child in her arms, holding it close to her heart, whispering words or just soothing sounds – comforting softly and closely, sometimes by her presence, sometimes her words, sometimes her touch. The crying stops, the child settles and rests quietly and safely in her arms.
That’s a practical and tender picture of what God does for any child of His. God comforts them. I have watched elderly saints struggling with pain that no medication seems to help until God invisibly takes them in His arms and whispers words of peace and assurance. I have witnessed a graveside where hearts are aching and tears flow, until God touches broken hearts and they begin to heal. “The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you.” Deuteronomy 33:27 NLT.
Jesus comforted His disciples when He promised, “And I will pray to the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever . . the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name.” John 14:16-17/26. The word can be, and is also translated, “helper, counselor, encourager.” Isn’t that wonderful? Comfort is more than something God does; the Comforter is who God is.
You may have seen this warning label on a package, “Fragile, handle with care.” People can be fragile; life can be painful. God handles people with care. Life will hold its share of bumps and bruises. When life is uncomfortable, when difficulties multiply, when you think you cannot make another day, when problems overwhelm, when your heart is breaking – that’s when you need to know and trust the God of all comfort.
Run quickly to “the Father of all compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.“ 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NIV.
My prayer for you today is to personally know God’s care and comfort.