“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 receive from God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
During this unique time in our world, we need to look to scripture passages that remind us of who God is, what He has done for us, and how He comforts us so we can comfort others.
Our God is with us when we face job losses, loneliness, grief, illness, depression, anxiety and the list can go on. He is not only with us but promises to bring us the comfort we need when we face troubles.
I am a deaconess in the North Carolina Conference. One of my ministries is with Hospice Healthcare. Our goal is to enable patients to live as fully and comfortably as possible in the final stage of life. Compassionate, quality service is our mission. And to us, service means getting to know our patients on a personal level. My friends ask me, “How can you do this?” I remind them that I lost my father and sister in 2004 and my brother in 2005. My mother passed in 1991. It was good to have some people around me who cared. It was through this that I felt God comforting me and giving me the peace that I needed.
God offers his peace not just to carry us through our own circumstances but so we can also comfort others. His grace overflows from our own lives and spills into the lives of others.
When you face difficulties remember God’s Holy Spirit is always at your disposal. While we suffer, God comforts. As we heal God uses our lives to bless others who need a listening ear, wise counsel, or a love-filled embrace.
Creator and Loving God, thank you for knowing my heart, caring about my concerns, and comforting me. Help me to share your grace, mercy, and comfort with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Brenda Brown is a Deaconness in the North Carolina Conference