The God of All Comfort

"In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider— God has made the one as well as the other" Ecclesiastes 7:14

The tragedy of the recent tornadoes is utterly devastating. It is truly unthinkable to imagine what the family members of victims and those who lost all their possessions are going through. My freshman year of college at Union University, an F-4 tornado ripped through the campus destroying 80% of our buildings. I can easily recall the terror and horror of the evening.  In the aftermath of the weeks that followed, I read this passage in Ecclesiastes 7:14 and it brought me such comfort to remember that God is in control. "God has made the one as well as the other." There is nothing that surprises the Lord and that He is not capable of bringing good from. God, in His Sovereignty, is able to "work all things together for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). 

God is Creator and Sustainer of the world and absolutely Sovereign. However, He is also the God of ALL comfort and the Father of MERCIES. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. 

May we commit to praying for the families struck by this horrible tragedy and may we proclaim the Good News of the Gospel to a broken and hurting world.

A New Heart: Bearing with one another

"Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other..." (Colossians 3:12b-13a, NASB).

It stands out when someone "bears with" someone else, whether it be in times of celebration or in times of sorrow. This "bearing with one another" is greatly seen in how God redeems us, because He brings hope that lasts:

• In the Old Testament, we can see how God's  love for the Israelites remained steady, even as they went through seasons of following Him and seasons of running in the opposite direction. He was just, and He was there for them when hard times came.
• In the New Testament, Christ lived to show us how to love others. He helped people who were struggling with things, from leprosy to pride. He died on the cross, paying the price for our sins as a way to offer a free gift of forgiveness.
• Today, God is faithful to give hope and establish trust as He listens to our prayers, encourages us through His Word, and offers comfort and wisdom through the Holy Spirit. 

How can you "bear with" someone else? Maybe pray for a coworker or listen to a neighbor? Would you share your ideas in the comment section below? We'd love to read them, and maybe they'll inspire others.

As we reach out to help and bear with others, let us remember that God is the best One we can turn to. He has the power to lead us through every moment as we set our trust in Him.

Lord, thanks for bearing our burdens. Help us be there for others and encourage them. Please help others know the hope, joy and peace that You offer so freely. Amen.

Check out Tenth Avenue North's song, "Let it go" at YouTube.com. It reminds me how God asks us to give our burdens and lives to Him (1 Peter 5:7).
Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo from www.therapeuticassociates.com.

A Day of Remembrance

"'Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful'" (John 14:27, New American Standard Bible).

As you probably heard, years ago a tragedy happened in downtown New York City on this day. Later, in the mix of saddening and shocking reports, my favorite stories were ones about heroes of the day. One story I remember was actually recorded in a running book called Going Long that is edited by Runner's World (you can find the book here). In that story, a seasoned long distance runner worked in the Twin Towers. His story stood out to me, because he took time to lead his office out of danger. He seemed gifted to be calm and to keep going under pressure, and he used those skills to help others around him during a time of crisis.

God sent Jesus to die for the world and our sins against Him and others. When we embrace this great grace that He offers, He sends the Holy Spirit to help guide believers through whatever happens in this life on earth. Through Christ's sacrifice for us, we have a great hero in Him.  In tough times, God can give us peace and hope as we trust in Him.

Lord, we know Your Holy Spirit is the divine Comforter. Please bring healing for the families of those who passed away that day. We pray others come to know You, because we have seen how You can transform lives for the better. Thank You for Your grace in sending Jesus to sacrifice in our place. Let Your Holy Spirit renew our hearts with a love for You and who You are. Help us share with others how You offer peace and hope. Please be with our country during this time of reflection. Amen.

suggested reading:  John 14
photo from www.bumperstickermagnet.com