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Oct 31, 2024 18:00pm

What Now?: Comfort

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The following comes from the devotional book “What Now?” by Ashley Akers. To learn more, go to www.whatnowdevo.com.

Comfort

I was very close to my maternal grandmother. She lived down the street from where I grew up, so I was at her house quite often. We would spend evenings sitting on the porch watching the cars go by and making up car colored games as they went. She taught me how to crochet on that porch, crocheting chains longer than the sidewalk, then pulling them apart and starting over. I have laughed on that porch as much as I have cried. Why was this porch so special to me? It may not be what you are expecting; it was because my grandma didn’t believe in air conditioning or turning on lights! So the breeze was much nicer outside. Grandma always brought me to church. She became my mentor and was the one I asked when I had questions about the Bible. She was my safe haven when things were tough at my house. When I would stay the night at her house, our evening would go something like this: talk, a supper of corn flakes followed by vanilla ice cream dessert, then watch the news. All with the lights OFF—she made sure we didn’t turn any lights on by taping every one of them down. Good memories. She taught me the simple life.

In December 2010, my spunky and funny grandma, the one I had relied on all my life, died. While singing “What a Day That Will Be” at her funeral, I longed for the day I could see her again. After the funeral I went home and on my knees in my bedroom cried out to God as I mourned my loss. While I was glad she had finally reached heaven as she had longed for, I felt selfish for wanting her back.

In Matthew 5:4 Jesus says this:

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

The word “blessed” is referring to being happy by experiencing hope and joy. How could I be happy while I’m mourning? Because when Jesus died, God gave us His Holy Spirit. He is our Comforter and Advocate who lives within us after we accept Jesus. While I was on my knees in my bedroom that day, the Holy Spirit gave me a peace and a joy, stronger than I had ever experienced, so that my tears of mourning immediately turned into tears of joy. It was like I could feel the joy she was experiencing in heaven. I began to worship God and I knew that everything was going to be okay. He promised that I would be comforted, and He didn’t forsake me. He won’t forsake you either, if you believe in Him. It’s been said, “Suffering makes room in our hearts to experience God’s peace.” When we make room for God, He shows up in a way that we can’t explain or even comprehend.

Once we experience God’s peace in suffering, we will often later find an opportunity to help others when they suffer. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 show us this:

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.

Your suffering is not an accident and in due time will be used for good. You may not be able to understand it at the time, but you will one day—in this life or the next. Keep trusting in God and give praise to Him through it all. He is worth it.

Reflection Questions

1. How have you experienced suffering in your life?

2. Do you find it difficult to worship God during suffering? Why or why not?