Source: Hearlight.org |
"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 may 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(ESV)
While I love all of God's word and find every scripture to be significant, there are certain verses that I have found to be of particular encouragement through the years. Today's scripture from 2 Corinthians is one of them.
Trouble or affliction is not uncommon to any of us. Sooner or later we all have to deal with it. For the Christian, when such times come, we can turn to the Lord in our helpless state and receive the strength and encouragement we need to carry on.
Now in my seventh decade on earth, I have a greater understanding of how God redeems everything that happens in our lives. When we run to Him with our wounded heart, He comforts us and reassures us of His love. When He called my husband of 37 years home, my heart broke into a gazillion pieces. The only thing I could do was give all those broken pieces to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and ask Him to put them all back together. And He has.
In the fifteen years since Jim passed, I have met countless women who have lost their husbands, and sometimes I have wept with them as they tell me their stories. And then something incredible happens, I feel their pain, however, I also feel the comfort that I have received from the Lord, and I am able to extend that same comfort to the woman with the broken heart by sharing with her what God has done for me. It's in that moment that 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 truly comes alive and bears fruit.
God is not a God of some comfort. He is the God of all comfort. We can rely on this, allow Him to give us all of His comfort, and then share what He has done with others. All to the praise and glory of our Savior!
Today's music video My Jesus by Anne Wilson is one of my favorites. An encouragement to us to share what Jesus has done in our lives with others. I hope you enjoy it.
I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.
Wonderful to read. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Sandi. Thanks for stopping by. xx
DeleteThat is also one of my favorite scriptures. The song is beautiful too. I've heard it before but not often. I can't imagine the heartache of losing a spouse of so many years. I know that it happens to everyone eventually. One or the other is left behind. I suppose it's inevitable but I don't want to think of it. Bless you for being there for others as they grieve through heartache. God is the best comforter always.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
There are so many verses that really speak as you read them, and hit you differently depending on what is happening in your life.
ReplyDeleteA dear friends husband passed away last Fall. His name was also Jim. I'm going to share this with her. I think she'll appreciate it.
Very true, Mari. Scripture is alive and active! I'm so sorry your friend is experiencing widowhood. I hope we can encourage her together. Blessings! xx
DeleteIt is amazing when loss and sadness can be so deep and your heart is broken in a million pieces how turning to God helps so much. He helps us understand that this is temporary and as time moves forward we too will move forward. Time never takes away loss or pain but it does have a way of helping us to tolerate the loss. Nice post Nancy. Have a great week. xoxo Kris
ReplyDeleteThank you, my friend. Your words are full of wisdom. Hugs.
DeleteBeautifully said, thank you for being you and for your encouraging blog. I cannot imagine trying to walk through this life without Jesus at my side. His Love comforts me each and everyday . . . I am always in awe that the God that created the universe, formed the sun, molded the moon, placed the earth on axis and set it in motion on a trip around the sun each year. He tells the tide when to come in and go out . . . This awesome God loves even me. I could not have gotten through the last two years without Him or any other year for the matter.
ReplyDeletePut Him first and Love one another. There is always someone around us that needs comforting and the love that He puts in us is met to be shared.
Thank you for sharing this verse.
"The God of ALL comfort!" Yes!
ReplyDeleteI love that He is the God of ALL comfort! Not just some but all of it. And I love the way He redeems our grief and loss and uses us to bring comfort to others.
ReplyDelete~Adrienne~