By Paul Chappell
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in
all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any
trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the
sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by
Christ."
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
I remember attending the funeral of a greatly used pastor
who had died suddenly at a young age. His death was so unexpected, and it was
obvious that his family and the church family had been staggered by the news.
Yet despite the sorrow and sadness that were very real, there was also a spirit
of hope at this funeral. The people sang "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."
Several of the speakers, including the pastor’s family, talked about the
importance of trusting God. As I spoke to the pastor’s wife, she told me how
she was trusting God in the storm.
Being a child of God is no guarantee that we will not endure
suffering and times of grief. But as children of God, we have a resource of
comfort and strength that the world does not know. We have a God who gives us
comfort in the midst of our grief. Because Jesus endured suffering, He knows
well the pain that we feel. In fact, the Bible calls Him "a man of
sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3).
It should always be true that our Christian friends and
church family will gather around us during difficult times. Yet even if that
does not happen and there are dark days when we feel like we are all alone, we
are never abandoned or forsaken. The God who gives comfort and peace is always
there for His children to help them through the darkest days they face.
Today's Rooted Principle:
If you are burdened or grieving today, turn to the God of
all comfort; you will find strength and help.
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