God's Comfort

"A man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; 

as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." --Isaiah 32:2

The Lord cares about us, just as a father cares for his children.  He has promised always to be with us.  He is our comforter.  In Isaiah 51 God says, "I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; and forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth."

We have had a flock of chickens for the past 10 years.  Growing up, the chickens were almost like extra siblings.  We followed them around and stalked them in the trees, studied their behavior, learned their language (well, almost--I'm still not fluent), and became friends with them.  

As much as we liked our chickens, they still had some bad habits; one of these habits was picking on the weakest.  If any of the hens were ill or suffering, all the other chickens would pick on her, hastening the coup de grace.  Nature sometimes can be very cruel.

Unfortunately, people too sometimes yield to these brutish tendencies, knocking down those who are falling and hurting those who are suffering.  But God is not that way.  He comforts those who are sad and lifts up the weak.

Jesus feels our suffering.  He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  He endured temptation.  He knew the pain of being despised and rejected of men, of being scoffed, beaten, crucified, and separated from His Father.  

Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted.  He came to give us peace, so that we could know the comfort of His Holy Spirit.  He came to give us a zeal and fire for Him that no earthly power can dim.  He is faithful, full of compassion, and He understands our every need and sorrow. 

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." --Hebrews 4:15-16