The God of all Comfort

 

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  2 Corinthians 1: 3-4

What does comfort look like? The original Webster (1828) defined comfort using the words strengthen, invigorate and cheer. In the Psalms, it talks about God comforting us with His rod and staff and His promise which preserves our lives. In Isaiah, God’s comfort is compared to the comfort of a mother for her child.

When you comfort someone, you are bringing them up. If they are depressed, you are cheering them. If they are physically weak, you are invigorating them perhaps with food or rest. The goal is to increase their strength. This is so important that the US Code actually defines giving comfort to our enemies as treason and it is punishable by death.

The rod and staff of the shepherd were used for guidance, correction and protection. The rod, with its “crook,” would pull a sheep back onto the path if it was going astray, either by the neck or the leg. You can imagine this probably did not feel good or “comforting” at the time, but it was so much better than the sheep ending up wandering alone and scared in the wilderness. The shepherd would use the staff to protect the sheep from wild animals that might attack the flock. I’m sure I would feel a great deal more comfort in having  a shepherd walking alongside of me who knew how to use his staff well! We also see in the scripture in Isaiah 66:13 a comparison of God’s comfort with that of a mother for her child. I think of a little one who falls down and skins their knee or an older child who runs into the house crying because someone has taunted them. The mother first kneels down to the child’s level, then swoops them into her arms and holds them close. Gentle murmurings ensue, the exact words don’t matter at all, what matters is the tone of voice and the soothing cadence. Before long, the child feels better. Their heart is healed. Their injury is forgotten. They are ready to return to their play, strengthened and invigorated.

This is the comfort that God has for us as well. When our bodies or hearts are injured, we only need to run to Him. Unburden ourselves of the hurt we feel, He can take it all on. Cry it out, tears are healing in so many ways. Released from the load, listen to God’s truth about you. You are His child, dearly loved. You are seen, wanted, known. He has a plan for You that has been being worked out since the beginning of time.

Here's the Thing: I am blessed to live in a beautiful area of the Pacific Northwest where I regularly get to look up and see Mt. Rainier. In our area the weather is often defined by whether or not the “Mountain is out!” It is so tall (14,409ft above sea level) that it is often hidden in cloud cover, or sometimes just the top peaks out above the clouds. Psalm 121 begins with the line, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?” Here we can actually do that. When I look up at the mountain I remember that I worship the God who made it, who could move it if He so desired. Psalm 121 is a lovely, brief reminder of God’s loving care for us and ends with, “the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” May the God of all comfort watch over you today!