Topic: God of all comfort – Our Daily Bread 17 December 2020
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these trying times, what we need is the comfort and assurance of God’s presence. And that is exactly what He gives us today.
More than 6 months have passed since COVID-19 struck Africa and turned our world upside down, and things have yet to improve. In fact, many of us are struggling even more, as retrenchments and a recession make life even more challenging and worrying. In such times, what we need is comfort. And that is exactly what God promises us.
In His Word, God calls himself “the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). God knows His people will suffer in this world, and that we need His comforting presence. And that is precisely the role He gives himself—He is our chief comforter for “all our troubles”. Nothing is too big for God to handle, and nothing too small for Him to care about. How can we experience God’s comfort? By resting in His presence and His Word.
We can also take heart that there is a true, lasting and unrivalled comfort to come, when God himself will “wipe every tear from [our] eyes” (Revelation 21:4). This is a very personal image of God’s care and attention. It shows that He understands exactly what kind of trials we have been through, and the pain we carry with us.
We have this certain hope that when we finally meet Him in person, God will be the one to greet us in heaven, wipe our tears away, and reassure us that sickness, sadness, uncertainty, and death are all behind us. He will be the one to receive us to give us His eternal comfort.
In this worry and pain-filled world, we know the One who is our comfort. He has overcome all troubles, He is victorious, and His kingdom cannot be shaken, even amid this global pandemic. That is our strength and hope. In a world where suffering surrounds us, we can look ahead to the world where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Father, our God of all comfort, who comforts me in all my troubles, bless me today with the peace of Your presence. I thank You that You truly know my every pain and the ache of my heart in these difficult days. Strengthen me for these days, may Your love allow me to endure, knowing You are with me and will always speak the words I need to hear, so that I will find my rest and peace in You alone. These days have been full of trials and pain for so many of us. May Your presence be felt by those full of hurt and loss. Fill the downcast with Your comfort and strength. Give us hope that this world is not our destiny. Bring healing to the hurting, for You know the aches and groans of Your people. Thank You for being with us and being all that our thirsty souls need.