The Promise of Comfort :: Deeper Devotion

The Promise of Comfort

December 20, 2008

By Tim Wade

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

It can be difficult to look at the world around us and not feel sorrow. We do, after all, live in a depraved world. Often times it can even seem that GOD has simply given up on humanity. The wicked thrive, the righteous are abused. It can be easy, even for the Christian, to feel as if there is no reason for rejoicing, just reason for mourning.

In the Bible the apostle Paul told his young disciple Timothy that those who desire to live a Godly lives must suffer (2 Timothy 3:12). In the same spirit he also told the church in Corinth not to lose heart due to pain and suffering because it was temporary and would be replaced with an exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). And to the church in Thessalonica he gave the church instruction to comfort each other by reminding each other that Jesus would soon return to earth and rapture His church

(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

For the Christian, true comfort will ultimately come when we get to heaven where we will live eternally with Jesus. Until that happens, though, we will more than likely have to endure some tough times. We will feel alone and mourn our loneliness. We will wrap our arms around the shoulders of hurting friend and cry with them. We will look at the world around us and cry out to GOD, “Where are you?” Without a doubt, there will be times when our burdens will be heavier than others, and there will times when they will be much lighter. In either case remember this truth. As Christians we will be blessed when we mourn because we will be comforted, and we will be comforted because we serve the GOD of comfort who comforts us in all of our tribulation (2 Corinthians 1:2-4).

In life we will face suffering, but suffering is only temporary. What will be eternal is the comfort that comes as a result of having a relationship with Christ Jesus.