Comfort, Where Are You?
O my beloved soul, (sigh)
What shall you do? When you seek comfort, and comfort is nowhere to be found?
Where do you go?
You cannot go back. No. There is no comfort to be had there. Not anymore. You have put that to death, have you not? Remember, beloved, Colossians 3:1-17?
Read it again, please.
Pray through it, once more. Please, beloved.
Here…I’ll try and help you.
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Dear heavenly Father,
I feel dejected.
I long to be held.
I long to be soothed.
I long to be comforted.
And…I feel confused.
I read in your Word,
Holy Spirit, your name is “Comforter”.
Can that be?
How?
Can you comfort me now, please?
I read in Isaiah 51:12 that you comfort, O God.
I believe your Word to be true.
I’m trying to walk by faith, Lord.
And yet…can I only receive this comfort now,
in faith?
Or…must I wait?
I suppose…you don’t say,
when, you will comfort.
Right? Yes.
You don’t say you will comfort,
immediately, do you?
No, I don’t think you do.
That’s enough of me though, and my feelings.
I think too much about me, anyways. (sigh)
I’m sorry, Father.
Paul tells me in Colossians 3,
that I need to reorient my perspective, yes?
I need to seek the things that are above.
Not the things here, on earth.
Is…me, longing to be held, soothed…
Are those all things I need to forget about now?
Or, do I just need to try and imagine,
somehow, receiving those comforts Then?
If so, please help me to do that, Father.
Now, my life is hidden in You, Lord?
Even my desires now, are hidden?
And my comforts are hidden, too, perhaps?
All of it is hidden, somehow?
Why do you say that it is hidden, Lord?
Is that a good thing?
Do you say it’s hidden because of faith?
I confess, Lord, I don’t understand. (sigh)
And, I’m trying not to despair.
I just…I need help, please.
Please, Lord, I desperately need your help.
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you”
Yes, Lord. I am trying…they seem quite dead.
I think?
But, please, make them even more dead.
Bury them forever, Lord.
And now, you know that I cannot be empty.
Now, I need to put on:
compassion,
kindness, humility,
meekness, and patience.
And, I am to bear with one another in love.
Yes, I know a little more about that, now.
And, I am to let your peace rule in my heart.
And, be thankful.
And your Word needs to dwell in me.
I’m trying Father, but please help me.
And I need to teach your wisdom,
and admonish others.
And sing songs with a thankful heart.
And do everything in your name.
And give you thanks.
O, Father!
My! That’s…a lot.
That will keep me plenty busy, yes?
My needed comfort, now, it seems less…
necessary? (pondering)
Or…I don’t know.
I’ll continue to wait upon you, Lord.
If you do wish to comfort me,
I know you will do so when the time is right.
Perhaps when there’s less work to do, yes?
Then you’ll give me comfort, Lord?
Either way, I won’t grasp after it.
No, I will not.
I will wait, with open hands.
I will not try and take, and fulfill my needs,
I will instead wait for you to give and provide.
I will continue to trust in you, Father.
Day by day.
Hour by hour.
Minute by minute.
Second by second.
I will put my trust in you, forever.
Please help me, Father.
My strength fails me.
(weeps)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. – 2 Corinthians 1:3–5 (ESV)
Father.
You are the God of all comfort?
All comfort?
Please help me to understand, or…
help me to forget?
Or, maybe you don’t want me to receive comfort?
Or, maybe I don’t really know what comfort is?
God, please help me.
If I receive comfort, then I can comfort others?
Is that what Paul is saying here?
Or maybe you will give me comfort
through others somehow?
I don’t know.
Save me, Father.
I am desperate for you.
Please satisfy me.
(pondering)
Actually, you were never really comforted here on earth.
Were you Father?
No, you were not.
Maybe that’s your answer to me.
Okay, I’ll wait.
Please help me to wait, gladly.
Amen.
I, even I, am, He that comforteth you.
– Isaiah 51:12
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Sweet is the solace of Thy love,
My Heavenly Friend, to me,
While through the hidden way of faith
I journey home with Thee,
Learning by quiet thankfulness
As a dear child to be.
Though from the shadow of Thy peace
My feet would often stray,
Thy mercy follows all my steps,
And will not turn away;
Yea, thou wilt comfort me at last,
As none beneath Thee may.
Oft in a dark and lonely place,
I hush my hastened breath,
To hear the comfortable words
Thy loving Spirit saith;
And feel my safety in Thy hand
From every kind of death.
O there is nothing in the world
To weigh against Thy will;
Even the dark times I dread the most
Thy covenant fulfil;
And when the pleasant morning dawns
I find Thee with me still.
Then in the secret of my soul,
Though hosts my peace invade,
Though through a waste and weary land
My lonely way be made,
Thou, even Thou, wilt comfort me –
I need not be afraid.
Still in the solitary place
I would awhile abide,
Till with the solace of Thy love
My heart is satisfied;
And all my hopes of happiness
Stay calmly at Thy side.
– Anna Laetitia Waring (1823 - 1910)