Scripture: Isaiah 40 v 1: "Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God."
We come through this life battle scarred and travel weary, having to be alert on every level to guard against problems. We are in need of comforting against the sorrows of this world.
This year has been a devastating onslaught of unimaginable problems. We never saw Covid 19 coming, as in the Middle Ages then never saw Bubonic Plague coming either. They certainly did not have the skills, medicines and machines that we have today. We need the Lord to comfort us in the midst of fear and loss. We also need to comfort those who are hurting.
We need to have a soft place to land, where we can rest. Our God, our Father, wants to comfort us and be our soft place. He welcomes us with open arms and lovingkindness. He is gentle with His children wanting only the very best for us. He provides for us to give us space to grow in His grace. We can also be a soft place to land for others in need of comfort and help.
Grace is the unearned favour of God. It is a priceless gift bestowed on those who come to Him with their troubles. He anointed Jesus to bear our sorrows and pain and to set free those who are bruised.
Luke 4 v 18: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised."
These bruises are not the visible bumps and knocks from physical encounters, but the deeper, fearful bruises on our inner souls. Things belonging to our subconscious mind and memories that still frighten and torment us. Jesus wants to release us from these inner bruises and free us from emotional baggage.
As we follow Jesus His pure and holy nature becomes part of our lifestyle. His mercy and truth comfort us and bring hope to our heavy hearts. We shed our fears and doubts as His love strengthens us and makes us whole from our brokenness.
Bring your hurts to the Father for healing and comfort. He will impart wisdom to enable you to overcome your burdens. Jesus says take My yoke upon yourselves as it is light and easy and roll your burdens onto Me.
He sent the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter. It is He who cushions our inner self from the ravages of sin and condemnation. He reminds us that we are forgiven from wrong choices and comforts our hurting hearts so we can walk through this world in peace and confidence.
So let us rejoice in His grace and favour which ease our sorrows. Let us praise and exalt our Saviour who has purchased our salvation. Let us love one another as He has loved us. For we are His people and He will protect us forever.
Let us thank Him for seeing us through this tormenting year and trust that next year will bring answers that comfort us. We are certainly in the curtain raiser events before the Tribulation starts. We have been through earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, famine, drought, superstorms, volcanic eruptions, ISIS, random terror attacks, economic pandemonium, and this pandemic.
Jesus told us these things would happen before He returns, but in the actual Tribulation it will be more frequently and much more severe, especially in the second half of the Great Tribulation which is called the Wrath of the Lamb. No Christians will be left on Earth for this as it will be His wrath poured out upon those who rejected Him. It will be terrible beyond our imagination.
There will be no comfort. The Antichrist will be in full manifestation of Satan forcing the Mark of the Beast upon everybody and if refused they die. In the Old Testament salvation came through the Blood of animal sacrifices in the Temple. In the New Testament its through the Blood of Jesus, and in the Tribulation by our own blood as martyrs.
We certainly need all the comfort we can get and our God will supply it. Let us realise what terrors await those who do not know Jesus and have no personal relationship with Him. It is up to us to be His witnesses to the lost, to see that the last days are upon us and reach out to friends, family, strangers to bring them into the fold.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we love You for making our lives rewarding through laying our burdens upon Jesus. We enjoy Your comfort and kindness Lord God and Your precious gift of grace. Keep us in the shelter of Your arms. In Jesus' name. Amen.