God, Our Comforter

Every single one of us, at some point or another, has felt sorrow. Just as we go through times of joy and beauty, we will also experience pain and sorrow in this lifetime. While sorrow is unavoidable, we can find hope in our sorrow when we lean on the Lord as our comforter.

The example of the Lord as our comforter often reminds me of how a child seeks comfort from a parent. Since becoming a parent, I have experienced this many times. I have two little boys and every time one of them wakes up from a bad dream, gets a bad “owie,” or is feeling pain in any way, they immediately run to me, throw up their arms, and want to be cuddled and receive comfort. They know as my children that I will comfort them and take care of them. Even though they are young, they know I will always be there waiting to help them when they need it.

Jeremiah knew this when he declared in Jeremiah 8:18 (NIV), “You who are my Comforter in sorrow, my heart is faint within me.” Jeremiah had been in lament over the nation of Judah and their lack of repentance towards God. While the nation of Judah may not have found God as their comforter, Jeremiah did and sought the Lord on their behalf. Even though destruction and pain were upon the nation of Judah, Jeremiah cried out to the Lord and declared that He was his comforter.

We too can trust that we serve a God and heavenly Father who is our comforter. He will always be there waiting for us when we call on Him. We can call on Him in the highs, and also in the lowest valleys. And when we do, we can show that same love and comfort to those needing it around us. Just like 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says,

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

So today, if you need comfort, run to the Father. He is waiting with arms wide open, just like a parent will wait for their child. He is ready to comfort you and be there for you in your time of need.

And if you have received God’s comfort in the past, choose today to find someone else to extend that same comfort to. Remind them that the God of all comfort is on their side.

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Scripture is quoted from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.