When contrary winds blow, and nothing seems to work, the Lord is there, never abandoning us whom He loves.
2 Corinthians 1:3 “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 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.”
The Hebrew word for “comfort” is used 100 times in the O.T. alone, and “consolation” 15 times. In the spelling of the word for comfort and consolation, in it’s very root is the idea of God’s support toward those who breath strongly for sorrow … even those weeping in grief. He is compassionate and kind to sad and weeping hearts and is the master of consolation.
It would seem to me, from God’s perspective, “comfort” and “consolation” are important to Him for us to possess and understand, especially now, when the world is in a downward spiral, the church, much at its’ own hand, is viewed as swindlers, liars, adulterers and thieves, schools have become factories of obedience and conforming rather than centers of learning and wonder, courts hand down verdicts that favor wealth over justice, and life in general seems visionless, dark, and down cast. Many of us are like 2 Corinthians 7:5 in that we feel as though our bodies have no rest, there is trouble on every side, outside are conflicts, and inside are fears.
The sun rises, on the evil and the good, rain falls soft on the just and the unjust alike. Don’t we all know the weather does not play favorites. As surely as dawn breaks, He will come to us. Press on, then, to know Jesus, for His coming is as certain as the dawn, as certain as the rain that waters the waiting earth. Jesus will come and sit with us.
Jesus Christ is the “God of all comfort.” He is with us even in the deepest pits of life — no matter how low we sink, He is there. Did you catch that? For those who believe, no matter how down we may be, God is with us. Jesus promised He would be with us always and never leave us, and if He said it, we can bank on it. And for those who are still searching, God is never far and is always ready to act — all we have to do is call.
Scripture repeats the phrase “fear not” sixty-three times — and that’s not even counting the variations on the theme. Deuteronomy 31:6 tells us God will never leave us or forsake us, and Hebrews 13:5 echoes that: “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” God doesn’t kid around.
The Holy Spirit will come and strengthen us through life’s trials and difficulties — if we simply ask. Ask Him, and then let Him do it! He is waiting for you. When we’ve learned firsthand what it means to be comforted by the Holy Spirit, we can truly offer that comfort to others. God comes to us before He works through us — before we pour ourselves out in service, He builds our character; we must first be filled and empowered by His Spirit. He knew that even the kindest words fall short when we’re pressed by death and loss. So He went the next mile: He sent His Son to save us, and He sends His Spirit to bring us home to Him. Jesus IS our consolation.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 7:6, “Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast...” “Downcast” translates the Greek word tapeinos (tah-peen-‘oss) — literally, as “low to the ground, brought low with grief, depressed.” Metaphorically, it carries the sense of “low estate,” “lowly in position and power,” “humble.” God comforts those who are low to the ground, and He stands with people who have been put down by life. God is right there for His people when they are sad, lonely, and confused. When His people are in the “pits” of life, He is there to lift them out and set their feet on higher ground.
Listen — life throws curve balls at everyone, not just you, no matter how “spiritual” we may be. Jesus said in Matthew 5:45, “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” The sun rises and sets on us all — good, bad, righteous, and unrighteous. You are not alone in your trouble, for Jesus still remembers when the world forgets. Thomas Moore wrote the hymn “Come, Ye Disconsolate” in 1816, and one line still rings true: “earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.” Jesus is the answer, always.
God is a loving, kind, and caring Father who is always there to offer comfort and consolation to us. David mentions three times hope as the key to overcoming being cast down, grieved, and low to the ground saying, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God …”. Hope, the expectation of becoming and overcoming. Let us hope in God.
So let us know, Let us press on to know the Lord, “As sure as dawn breaks, so sure is his daily arrival. He comes as rain comes, as spring rain refreshing the ground.” Hosea 6:3.
Hosea 6:3 is our promise of comfort and consolation, and God NEVER breaks His promises, even if we think He has, does, or will, let us be assured, God keeps ALL His promises and is completely faithful. Hypocrisy is the Achilles heel of all mankind for God is the only one who always does all, and exactly what He says. The Lord will come to us like the rain. Let us comfort others with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God, and if we have an abundance of comfort and consolation, pay it forward.
i’m Social Porter for Living In His Name Ministries