January 27, 2023

SEEK GOD’S COMFORT

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 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. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

There is a great truth that Paul seems to repeat frequently in his writings—God’s grace is most keenly experienced not in the best but in what seem to be the worst of times. When we face troubles and problems, we discover God’s grace and comfort the most. Rarely do we experience and grow in God’s grace and comfort when times are good. Paul talks about God comforting us “in all our troubles.” This word “troubles” refers to pressures and distresses. The word is used nine times by Paul in this letter. Paul tells us that our troubles help to shift our perspective from the external and temporal to the internal and eternal. I have seen this happen time and again in my own life and in the lives of those around me. Just recently a family friend was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. She is only 22 years old. She had recently graduated from college, accepted her first job, moved to a new city to begin living her dreams of corporate success. In one moment of time everything changed. Her priorities shifted from making money and being successful in the business world to getting healthy. Our nation saw that on January 2, 2023, when only a few minutes into a Monday night football game a player suffered a cardiac arrest. Players and coaches had worked for days to prepare for this very important game. But in that moment the game was no longer that important. I watched a coach take his entire team of professional athletes and kneel in prayer in the middle of the field. In that moment no one questioned whether there was a God or whether we should have prayer in public. The crisis of the moment changed the priorities of everyone. Instead of running from trouble and difficulties let’s decide to learn from them. Let’s lean into the presence of God and discover a new depth of His grace and comfort. The more we discover His grace and comfort the more we can comfort others. I want to be a source of comfort to others. For years I have tried to build relations with others in my world who are not yet followers of Jesus Christ. I know that somewhere in their life they will have trouble. When that trouble comes, they will look for someone they trust to help them find hope and comfort. Many times, Cindy and I have been able to introduce others to the comfort of our Heavenly Father because of the relationship we had before their trouble hit.

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit please help me to experience and know the comfort You bring in our lives. Help me to be a source of comfort for others as I direct them to Your comfort.

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