COMFORT 

  Today I thought about the way the Lord comforts us.  He has a unique way of making us feel better, loved, cared for, encouraged and nurtured, and I really like it! 

  It's quite alarming to realise how often we need that comfort, as a human being, as a Christian, but He knows us intimately and loves to surround us with love and assurance. 

  When my children were very small, my comfort for them, was a continuous flow of words, touch, sympathy, protection, sustenance and affirmation.  They needed it, all the time, and so do we as God's children.  God knows this and sent Jesus, full of grace and kindness towards us, so that we could know the loving nature of our Heavenly Father. 

"The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, Who loved us and gave everlasting consolation and encouragement and well founded hope, through His grace and favour, comforts and strengthens you"     2 THESSALONIANS 2:16-17 

  It seems to be very important to the Lord that comfort comes to us fully and freely ALL THE TIME!  There are so many Bible verses that communicate this thought very strongly, and they help us to reach for Him regularly, to receive the comfort.  Then we find we are also able to comfort those around us. 

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy, pity and mercy, and the God who is the source of every comfort.  Who comforts, consoles and encourages us in every trouble, calamity and affliction so that we may also be able to comfort those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God." 
2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4 

  Stress comes to us from all sides in many ways, but the comfort from God is an everflowing stream towards us. 

  Jesus asked the Father and He sent us Another Comforter, the precious Holy Spirit, whose very personality comes to live inside us as the Ultimate Carer.  We can always rely on Him to make Jesus real to us, to enable us to experience the presence of God, and to bring to our minds the words Jesus has said. 

  When we are reminded of the truths in the Bible, real relief floods us and we feel strong on the inside again because God really means what He says, and makes sure that it is carried out on our behalf -  David described this in PSALM 119:50

"This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that your Word has revived me and given me life." 

  His words encourage us to join in his faith in God, and as we demonstrate our trust in the care and keeping of God, the people around us are also comforted.  It's an ever-increasing blessing! 

"For this reason, in spite of all our stress and crushing difficulties we have been filled with comfort and cheer about you, because of your faith (the leaning of your whole personality on God in complete trust and confidence."

I THESSALONIANS 3:7 

  Maybe, when we were growing up, it was taught that we should be brave and get through difficulties with our own determination, and 'gritted teeth' - but God is our Father and He treats us gently and tenderly, always accompanying us and pouring out His special comfort to strengthen us.  It's His joy to comfort us and our joy to let Him.  Don't be afraid to open up to the pleasure and relief of being comforted by God.