Comfort, Cheer and Consolation

"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." - Isaiah 40:1-8

Dear Friends,

The dictionary definition of comfort is: 

• to give strength and hope to:cheer; 
• to ease the grief or trouble of: console. 

 How do we cheer others?  How can we offer words of consolation in the midst of devastation that sometimes is so great it is beyond our comprehension.  The truth is, that in and of ourselves, we do not have the ability to do so.  True comfort, effective consolation, is rooted in the Word of God.  Does this mean that each time we show up  in a situation we break out quoting scriptures?  We know that sometimes in our zeal to break out the Bible people go running in the other direction.

  The key is that we must seek, each day, to live our lives in  manner that is consistent with the Word of God.  It is then easier for people to receive the  cheer that we offer through Christ.   Have you ever been in a situation where a Christian just showed up and you felt better.  Perhaps, they did not speak a word but just gave a hug or sat a while.  Maybe they cried with you.  Through their actions you received comfort, cheer and consolation.              

The Lord wants us to comfort and be comforted in knowing that He is control of everything. He wants us to be comfortable in Him while realizing that He is working all things out for our good.  There is a time coming as told by Isaiah, when the crooked will be made straight and the way plain.  

Our focus must be higher that what we can see with the natural eyes.  The prophet tells us the grass and flowers  both wither and fade away.  Yet, God's Word is ever fruitful.  The Word is always alive and flourishing.  The Word prospers at all times.  The Word of God cannot be hindered nor altered.  It is true.  It is right.  The Word of God is sustaining and in the Word of God we can be comfortable.  He has let us know that He is Alpha and Omega.  He Was.  He Is. He Always Will Be.

 Jesus said:

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." St. John 14:26

"... when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." St. John 16:13-14

My prayer for you today is that you will have comfort, cheer and consolation...

in Christ,

Sis. Stephanie