Comfort and Joy

11-5-2010

Comfort and Joy by Boyd Bailey


“Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.” Isaiah 49:13

God is aware of our suffering and He wants His children to discover relief in Him. Our affliction may be self-inflicted or from outside sources. Regardless, His compassion is more than empathy, but it is active and far reaching. No matter how deep and severe our wounds, He cares. He comforts the afflicted and afflicts those who are too comfortable.

He understands your hurt. He understands your rejection. He understands your humiliation. He understands your fears. Jesus walked through the hurt of humanity on His way to the halleluiahs of heaven. He will never leave you or forsake you. It is for you and others that He lived and died. His mercies, love and grace are new every morning. “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Christ is a catalyst for community, as He invites you to join Him and His church. The compassion of Christ and others is a healing balm; so seek out the comfort and compassion of God’s people. The Body of Christ is there to administer healing and support. A wounded body part will eventually die if left unattended, but will recover and thrive with the support of other members. Christians are interdependent on one another.

Pride resists receiving help, but humility seeks help. Pride and humility cannot coexist. Pride says I can buck up and go at this alone. Humility says alone I will fail, but with others I will succeed. Our perception becomes skewed under the onslaught of affliction. We lose sight of the spiritual battle that is raging. Humility battles on its knees in prayer.

But your brothers and sisters in Christ help you fight the enemy, like loyal comrades in a crisis. So, let God’s comfort and the comfort of others administer grace to your wounded heart. Trust Him to fight the good fight on your behalf. Let Jesus love on you. Let people encourage you and hold you accountable. One day you will be able to comfort others with the same comfort you have received. Indeed, your compassion will be much deeper, broader and Christ-like. Therefore, rejoice because of His great comfort and compassion!

“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” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Do I rejoice in the comfort of Christ? Am I extending His comfort to the uncomfortable?