“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
You know, I do not have all the idiosyncrasies figured out in Blogger yet…my guess is I will never figure them ALL out. But if I knew how to BOLD just one word in today’s title it would be ALL. The God of ALL Comfort…not the God who comforts me in some of my trials, not the God who comforts me most of the time, not the God who comforts me when things get to much for ME to handle (which is always, but that is a post for another time)…no, I serve a God that comforts me in ALL my trials. Think about who wrote this scripture in 2 Corinthians…the apostle Paul…I’d say that man had some trials and issues and in comparison, my issues and trials pale…big time. The trouble is: my issues are MY issues. They are big to me, just as your trials and issues are big to you. But, I serve “the God of all comfort,” so why don’t I trust that “the God of all comfort” will comfort me? Why don’t I ask for comfort? Why don’t I take my trials and issues to the cross and leave them there? Probably because I am human. Last I checked I had real control issues! (Ask my husband, my son, friends who came to dinner Saturday night, my sisters, just about anyone that knows me!!!)
To truly allow God to work in my life, I have to give up control. I have to let him comfort me in ALL my trials. It is easy to ask for comfort for the big things, the most difficult times…death, serious illness, job loss, financial crisis…you get the idea. But what about the comfort for the less serious things? God is there for me in those times too…times of uncertainty about what to do, times when things don’t make sense, times when I feel I have more to do than can get done…he is there to comfort me, I just have to ask.
That is one of the neat things about God…he is always there, waiting patiently for me to ask for help. I think it was about 1975 that Gary Paxton wrote a song called He Was There All the Time…here are the lyrics:
“Time after time I went searching for peace in some void, I was trying to blame all my ills on this world I was in. Surface relationships used me till I was done in, But all the while someone was begging to free me from sin.
Chorus:
He was there all the time. He was there all the time. Waiting patiently in line. He was there all the time
Never again will I search for a fake rainbows end. Now that I’ve found the answer my life is just starting to rhyme. Sharing each new day with Him is a breath of fresh life. Oh what I’ve missed He’s been waiting right here all the time.”
Lord, again today, I ask you to help me remember that you are there for me in all my trials, all the time. All I have to do is ask for your help. Please help me relinquish control and leave my troubles at your feet. Please guide me during this time of uncertainty, help me to seek your will and to clearly understand what you want me to do. Be with my family, especially those that are travelling, please give them a safe journey. Bless those reading this blog and give them a peaceful day. Thank you for all you have done for me and for being there ALL THE TIME.
Peace and blessings…….
Chatter