Comfort, Immeasurable, Exquisite!

#Comfort

Let’s ask a different kind of question.  Can the comfort of God not only lessen my pain but strengthen my walk with God? Is it possible to go one step further and suggest that God will compensate our loss in such a way that the loss will add value to our life?  During the incredible pain of life’s greatest tragedies, we cannot comprehend it. Think about the child that so loves being comforted by her mom that she fakes getting hurt!  She cries mommy, “I fell down and hurt my knee”.  She, just wants Mommy to hug her and kiss her and make it feel better.  It is the kiss she desires, in the same way, God’s comfort is immeasurably exquisite!

The Comfort of God!

What is the source of comfort and where can we find it? 

2 Corinthians 1:3 says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.”

God is the ultimate or first cause of all things.  He is the God of all comfort.  This is how he is the God of all comfort.  You might ask, but what about my friends they give me comfort, my family gives me comfort, just their presence, their hugs, their tears, and laughter give me comfort.  This poem gives me comfort.   Yes, but God is responsible for their very existence and when He created them, he created them for that very purpose.  So, lean on your family and friends during times of difficulty and loss.  

To know God’s comfort, we must know suffering.  We vigorously object to those things that cause our suffering, but if we did not know suffering then we would not know His comfort.  And God’s comfort is immeasurable.  True our friends and family give us comfort, but there is no comfort like the Holy Spirit of God.  In our moments of solitude when we are alone with our thoughts and our pain, God will be with us in a very real way.  When we cry to the Lord, when we shed tears in His presence then the Holy Spirit moves in and does what nothing else or no one else can do to relieve our pain.  Cry out to the Lord with all your heart and watch what God will do.    

How do we perceive things?  In the shadow of eternity, everything looks a little different.  Sorrow is a glass, a window into eternity.  Why? Solomon says that sorrow makes the heart better Eccl. 7:3.   It focuses our attention on things that are eternal. 

We could never fully appreciate the good, if not contrasted with that which is bad.   I never appreciate momma’s cooking as much as when I must endure bad cooking.   Then, oh how much, I would like to go sit at Mom’s table again.  And how good it is when I can.  So, in difficult times we wish things could be as they had been or that our circumstances would change.  But the best, of all we have known, ultimately came from God who is the first cause of all things.  Some things will never be as they were in the past, but He that created the past will create for us a new beginning greater and better than what we have known.  When I lost my parents, I said to myself, “Nothing will ever be the same again.”  But when I hear my 17-month-old granddaughter say I love you Poppa, nothing could be better!

Tears are (as) the fragrance of crushed flowers, in sorrow, we find the aroma of God’s comfort.  We are never so close to God as in our times of suffering.  So, then the greatest times of suffering become our greatest times of consolation and peace.  And in these times never is Jesus so precious!!!  Jesus says, “Blessed are those that mourn for they shall be comforted” Matt. 5:4.  So again, cry to God, allow your tears to flow, tell God how you feel.  Ask Him to help you with your pain and watch Him rush in.  Allow Him to hold you, to comfort you.  Cry to Him, just as the child that says, Daddy, kiss it and make it better.  But when God does it is wonderfully exquisite!  So, in the times of your greatest pain lean on the Lord as never before. Your hope and confidence in Him will grow immeasurably.

The Cross is our greatest source of Comfort.  Isaiah writes,

“And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His (death,) Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.” Isa. 53:9

Jonathon Cahn in His book “Book of Mysteries” points out that in the original Hebrew, it says ‘in His deaths’, plural. “What does that mean?” 

He writes, “In Hebrew, when a word should be singular, but is rendered plural, it is often a sign that the reality behind the word is so unique, so intense, so extreme, or so colossal that the word alone cannot contain it.  …In other words, the death of Messiah is such a unique reality, such an extreme reality, such an intense reality, and such a colossal reality, the word death cannot even begin to approach it. …  What happened in His death goes beyond anything we can express with our words or comprehend with our thoughts.  It is a singular combined with a plural.  It would make sense in their deaths, but it says, His deaths.  What does it mean?  It would mean that in a sense He would die many deaths in that He died for all.”   

He took each one of our deaths upon Himself.  He is broken many times, in that He is broken for all, wounded many times in that He is wounded for all.   His heart is broken for you, in that His heart broke for all.  Know that there is no sorrow or grief that He does not share with you, so let Him hold you and console you as only He can.  It is as if He endured the pain specifically for the pain that you are experiencing this moment.  So, know in this moment He suffers with you and weeps with you!!!  L et Him embrace you with His Spirit and weep with you in your pain.  This moment as He holds you, you will find His comfort to be most exquisite!

When Paul writes to the Corinthians Paul and the New Testament believers are suffering great persecution. Paul indicates that it is God who comforts them during their tribulation. He says, of God, “…who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.” 2 Cor. 1:4, 5

The purpose of our comfort is not only that we will have relief from our pain, but that we will one day be able to relieve another’s pain.  If we know Jesus, our sorrow finds great purpose.

Paul endured His afflictions so that those He ministered to could find the same consolation that He did.  This is the purpose of suffering, sorrow, and loss.  The hope that we might help someone else becomes a source of our own comfort. Part of the consolation or comfort is the purpose it gives to our lives.

In 1981, six-year-old, Adam Walsh was kidnapped and murdered.  John Walsh his father, made it his life’s mission to help find and rescue missing children.  While this is not the life for which anyone would ask, look at all the good John has been able to accomplish.  John Walsh has been able to enact legislation and enact law enforcement policies to help find missing children.  He produced the hit series, “America’s Most Wanted,” the program helped law enforcement capture more than 1,200 fugitives and brought home more than 50 missing children.  John has found his purpose in life, and you can find your purpose, even in your pain. 

The purpose for suffering and comfort is ‘one’, it is shared. Paul goes on to say in 2 Cor.1:6–7

“Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.  And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.”

Paul is saying that the very reason that he was afflicted was for the benefit of those who would be afflicted in Corinth.  If you are in pain God has already purposed that it will bring comfort to someone else.  How are you are going to find God’s comfort?  You are going to find the path of comfort.  You are going to be so comforted and overjoyed with God’s help that you will share that with someone who really needs it.  Then they will come to know the joy and comfort that you have received.  

The Depth of Paul’s trouble.

In Iconium the people planned to stone Paul and when Paul and his companions were warned they fled to the cities of Lystra and Derbe.  There they preached the gospel.  The people of Antioch and Iconium followed Paul to Lystra and Derbe and persuaded the people to stone Paul.  They took Paul outside the city, stoned him, and left him for dead.  Paul miraculously recovers, and later in Phillippi, Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in prison.  These are just a few of the hardships Paul endured. 

Note the severity or depth of Paul’s trouble.  He writes about it to the Corinthians, “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. 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.  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. 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.” 2 Cor. 1:8–11 (NLT)

The Hidden Purpose in Tragedy. 

If God could help Paul through all he endured, He can help you.  When bad things happen to you; does it mean that God has forsaken you? No, quite the opposite.  Know God trusts you to share the gift of comfort with others.  He will empower you, to help you, to help others.  In the past I had empathy for others pain, but after my parents died, I found that my empathy for others had grown. That in a few years I have been able to share many times. 

If you have endured pain or suffered loss you will be able to help others in several ways.

1. Your shared experience with those who are hurting will open their hearts to receive what you can share!
2. The comfort you have received will give them comfort.
3. The supernatural comfort of God will give them healing!
4. The purpose you have found, they will also find in sharing with additional hurting people.  Your comfort will grow exponentially through them.  

Know that God’s comfort is the ultimate comfort.  David wrote “This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.” Seek God, cry out to God until your comfort is immeasurably exquisite. Be so filled with His comfort that you even appreciate tragedy.

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah says it perfectly, “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)