"Comfort"

Sometimes we get the hardest news,

And think we won’t survive,

Something we wish we could refuse,

Or think we can deny.

But it just falls upon us,

Like a meteor from hell,

Rug pulled from beneath us,

A shock and awe bombshell.

They call and say your loved one,

Is sick and won’t get well,

Or got killed in some car wreck,

You just can never tell.

Or maybe your dear mother,

Finally breathed her last,

For you there was no other,

Who held you true and fast.

Lots of trial and trouble,

Straight out calamity,

Some seem to catch it double,

Like some special travesty.

So what to do, my brother,

When your heart is broke,

You’re scared to hear another,

Bunch of sad words spoke.

I only have one answer,

And I was glad to hear,

‘Cause if they say it’s cancer,

You need a God who’s near.

And this is just the reason,

I’ll say we turn to Him,

No matter what’s the season,

He knows just where you’ve been.

And you can pour your heart out,

Until it’s empty, done,

And He’ll pour in the comfort,

‘Cause He’s the only One,

Who knows all things about it,

And loves you through and through,

And there’s no doubt about it,

You’ll see what He can do.

He’ll lift life’s greatest burden,

He’ll heal life’s deepest hurt,

He’ll steady what’s uncertain,

And to new hope give birth.

So when you get the bad news,

It’s not the final say,

‘Cause God will bring you good news,

To your life’s saddest day.

“He comforts us in all our troubles…” (2 Cor. 1:4, NLT)

You have trouble, I have trouble, all God’s children have trouble. Some have it worse than others, and no one can explain why. Life can be awful. It can also be wonderful. Either way, God is the great comforter. Some just can’t believe God is that way. They have no problem believing He will judge us, punish us, and make things hard if we sin. They seem to think that their mission in life is to warn people about that God. “God’s good, you’re bad, stop it!” In case you need more convincing, the Bible does say that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And, don’t get me wrong, I know God is a righteous God of judgment. But aren’t you relieved that the God who judges wants to comfort us? We’d be in a world of hurt otherwise. Oh, and one more thing. Since God is so generous with His comfort, maybe it’s time we stopped saying “Get over it” and started giving away some comfort, too. Just a thought.

Lord, thank You for comforting us in all our troubles. Help us comfort others, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tyler Crow, tylercrow.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Tyler, and God bless you.