Last week, we began our series on Turning to God for Comfort by defining “need,” “distress,” and “comfort.” We also considered the question, “Why are we so distressed?”
This week we’ll address the second question raised in last week’s post, “Why is it so difficult for us to accept and recognize His “comfort?”
A True Story of God’s Comfort.
Several months ago, the mother of a friend of mine (we’ll call him “George”) went into the hospital. After a battery of tests, the doctors told George that his mother had a terminal illness and that there was little that could be done to extend her life. As might be imagined, George was upset and discouraged by this news. As he and his wife were leaving the hospital, she suggested that they get something to eat before heading home. They selected a restaurant that was convenient to the hospital.
Another fact that is pertinent to this story is that George is a huge fan of rock and roll, and one band in particular.
As he and his wife were waiting for their food, one of the members of his favorite band strolled in and sat at the table next to them! They were surprised, and for George, this situation was a “dream come true.” He’d idolized this musician from afar for years, and now the man was sitting right next to him! George noticed that his mood was made slightly better by this seeming happenstance.
Then to their amazement, other famous musicians acquainted or associated with the band also began to arrive and sit at the table beside my friend. Eventually, there were at least six of George’s favorite musicians sitting right next to him. And, as each one arrived, George felt his malaise dissipate a bit more.
The arrival of so many of George’s musical idols had served as a real “tonic” for his deflated spirit. By the time he and his wife left the restaurant, George no longer felt the deep depression he’d felt when he’d arrived. Yes, his mother was still sick, and, yes, he still felt bad about her circumstances. But the day that had begun so poorly had been turned into a day that “wasn’t so bad after all.” He was still sad about his mother, but George had found something to celebrate during that awful day.
To have an unexpected encounter with an idolized musician could have been a simple coincidence. But to have that many idols congregate in a small out-of-the-way café and to sit next to my friend strains the credibility of “chance.”
To me, this was a “God Moment;” a moment in time when God reaches out of the spiritual world and inserts Himself directly into our path in this one. I believe that God recognized my friend’s distress and moved to alleviate it before He was even asked. In that encounter, my friend received God’s Comfort.
Accepting Comfort.
God’s comfort may be difficult for us to accept because, deep down, most of us prefer to believe that we are in control of our circumstances. We believe that we can fix whatever problem or issue with which we’re dealing. We don’t want to be dependent on God. We’d rather “go it on our own.” [James 4:10]
Or, we may have difficulty accepting that God involves Himself in the “here and now.” We may be comfortable with Him as an inaccessible concept “in Heaven,” but there can be something unsettling about the idea that the Lord of the Universe inhabits the world with us and is intimately involved with us each day. [Luke 12:24]
Recognizing Comfort.
Much of the time, we just don’t expect God’s comfort. We ask ourselves, “How can the Lord of the Universe be bothered to care about something as insignificant as me?” And of course, the answer is that to God there is nothing more important than each of us. So, His interest in and concern for us really shouldn’t be a surprise. [Matthew 10:31]
We may not recognize His comfort because we’re not paying attention. God can be pretty stealthy. As in my friend’s encounter, He provided comfort before George even realized that he needed it or asked for it. God’s comfort is frequently subtle, and it is only on reflection that we discern that He’s responded to our distress.
We may not recognize God’s comfort because it doesn’t come in the timeframe or in the manner we’ve requested. Rather than trusting in His wisdom, we believe that we know best the kind and timing of comfort we need. And when He responds differently, we are unable to see it. [Acts 1:7]
Much of the comfort that God provides is through the use of people around us. With my friend, it was the people sent by God who provided the comfort, not some blast from the heavens. We are God’s angels on Earth, and He charges each of us to give comfort to our fellow man. Just because He uses us as His hands and feet does not mean that the help we provide does not come from God. God enables us, and when we respond to His call to service, we become the best that we can be. [Ephesians 6:7]
Conclusion.
George’s story speaks directly to the question, “Why is it so difficult for us to accept and recognize His “comfort?” Because like so many of us confronted with difficult situations, George hadn’t thought to ask for God’s help. He wasn’t expecting God to intervene. It wasn’t until several days later while he was recounting his encounter with the musicians to a friend that he realized what God had done for him. Only in retrospect was he able to discern God’s comfort.
In summary, for us to accept and recognize His comfort we need to:
- Believe in His wisdom and expect His providence; [Matthew 6:8]
- Accept that He will work as He will, not at our whim; and [Exodus 33:19]
- Be willing to see Him when He approaches us in the guise of others. [2 Corinthians 1:3-4]
When we do these things, we will be better able to recognize the “God Moments” in our own lives.
God’s Blessings on You All.
Richard
July 5, 2019
