The Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.
Many times in our lives we may go through a difficult situation and feel that we need some support from others. Some encouragement, some consolation, a nice word, even a verse from the Bible that can lift us up. But sometimes in vain. No one is there to help.
Paul was in a similar situation in Macedonia. Sufferings, conflicts, fears. everywhere he says in his 2nd epistle to Corinthians. Who is there to help? Someone there? Nobody? Yes there is someone."... God, who comforts those who are downhearted, comforted us by the coming of Titus." Yes, even if people, brothers, friends are absent in such a situation, there is always someone who is always present. God Himself. In this case, He used Titus to comfort Paul.
On another occasion, Paul was in prison in Rome. He tells Timothy: "At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me... But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me."
No one was on Paul's side. All the brothers preferred to stay away from him. They feared the Romans. But even though people were absent, God stood with Paul. How? He doesn't say. But it doesn't matter. What matters is that God stood with him and supported him.
On another occasion, Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane praying just before he was arrested by the Jews. He needed some support from His disciples. Yes, even Jesus needed support and comfort. Jesus feels sorrow, fear, loneliness. Jesus? Yes, Jesus. He needed someone by His side. A human presence to strengthen Him to get through what was soon to come. But no one is there. Peter, John, James, and the rest are asleep. Luke writes, "and an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him." When people, our brothers, our friends, our relatives, are absent, God can even send an angel. He will never leave us alone. He will never be absent. We will never walk alone.
So when you feel that you need someone to help and support, that person is God.
It is true that our Lord is always with us and when all others fail us, He never does.
It can be a lonely time when we are tried by difficulties and painful circumstances, but seeing these times as opportunities to lean into Christ for comfort, love, company, direction, wisdom, and strength to continue to follow him despite what confronts us will bring us to a place of holy struggle with our circumstance with the Lord, our vanguard, walking through the valley of evil, distress, loneliness, and/or other aspects of a situation that we cannot bear alone. He is our burden bearer, our sin bearer, our strong fortress, our calm in the storms of life. Thankfully!
Many times in our lives we may go through a difficult situation and feel that we need some support from others. Some encouragement, some consolation, a nice word, even a verse from the Bible that can lift us up. But sometimes in vain. No one is there to help.
Paul was in a similar situation in Macedonia. Sufferings, conflicts, fears. everywhere he says in his 2nd epistle to Corinthians. Who is there to help? Someone there? Nobody? Yes there is someone."... God, who comforts those who are downhearted, comforted us by the coming of Titus." Yes, even if people, brothers, friends are absent in such a situation, there is always someone who is always present. God Himself. In this case, He used Titus to comfort Paul.
On another occasion, Paul was in prison in Rome. He tells Timothy: "At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me... But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me."
No one was on Paul's side. All the brothers preferred to stay away from him. They feared the Romans. But even though people were absent, God stood with Paul. How? He doesn't say. But it doesn't matter. What matters is that God stood with him and supported him.
On another occasion, Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane praying just before he was arrested by the Jews. He needed some support from His disciples. Yes, even Jesus needed support and comfort. Jesus feels sorrow, fear, loneliness. Jesus? Yes, Jesus. He needed someone by His side. A human presence to strengthen Him to get through what was soon to come. But no one is there. Peter, John, James, and the rest are asleep. Luke writes, "and an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him." When people, our brothers, our friends, our relatives, are absent, God can even send an angel. He will never leave us alone. He will never be absent. We will never walk alone.
So when you feel that you need someone to help and support, that person is God.
Have a blessed week and month.
It is true that our Lord is always with us and when all others fail us, He never does.
It can be a lonely time when we are tried by difficulties and painful circumstances, but seeing these times as opportunities to lean into Christ for comfort, love, company, direction, wisdom, and strength to continue to follow him despite what confronts us will bring us to a place of holy struggle with our circumstance with the Lord, our vanguard, walking through the valley of evil, distress, loneliness, and/or other aspects of a situation that we cannot bear alone. He is our burden bearer, our sin bearer, our strong fortress, our calm in the storms of life. Thankfully!
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