Corona Devo 1216

When I’m out of town, I like to connect with friends and family if possible, because why not?  People and our connections with them are what keep our heart-fires burning, our family-ties tied, and our sense of being-loved alive. 

So, when we were in California, I remembered that the son of one of my dear friends who passed away earlier this year, lived there.  But when I looked up his address, he was 2 ½ hours from us.

But fast forward a few days and a few miles, and when I checked the distance between us again, it was only 19 minutes.

I flashed back to how I felt in the first months and year after my mom passed.  The tunnel of shock, sadness, loneliness, and isolation seemed to have no light.  You go through the motions, but there are no longer any sensations to accompany them. 

Have you been in that tunnel, as a result of sorrow, depression, or lack-of-purpose?  

Are you there today?

When we are in those times, we can’t imagine why we must be there.

But Scripture reminds us that God provides us comfort in our times of need so that we might provide comfort to others when they need it. 

God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. (4) He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.  ~2 Corinthians 1:3-4

We’ve been there—where the hurt is hollowing and the sadness almost sucks the life out of us.  But it’s in those depths that we can finally release the fallacy that we are in control and it’s there that we learn to rely on God.

We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. (9) In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God… (10) And he did rescue us… and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. (11) And you are helping us by praying for us.  ~2 Corinthians 1:8-11

~~~

I remember being there in “the tunnel” vividly.  And I also remember God’s (unique) comfort to me during that time.  It came from His Word, it came from His presence, and God’s comfort also came to me from His people.

Sometimes just by seeing someone, having a little lunch together, and shooting the breeze.  Knowing they loved me and were loving on me just by being with me...comforted me.

God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. (4) He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.  ~2 Corinthians 1:3-4

So...God worked out the scheduling and we had lunch with our friend, who was far away before, but near enough for a hug today.  He didn't need a therapy session, but God whispered to my heart through these verses this morning that maybe he needed a little comfort--and to just shoot the breeze with people that loved him.

We could do that.

And...we are supposed to do that for one another.

God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. (4) He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.  ~2 Corinthians 1:3-4

~~~

If we need God’s comfort today, please Lord, reveal it, drape it over our shoulders, and allow us to be comforted by You, Your Word and Yor people.  Amen.

If we can comfort others today, then Lord, help us enter into doing so.  Take the distance down from 2 ½ hours to 19 minutes between us and those that need Your comfort. Amen.

~~~

Lord, if we are crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure today, lift our eyes and our spirits upward to You.  May we feel Your comfort directly or through others and as a result, may we stop relying on ourselves and learn to rely only on You.  

Rescue us, and if we can be used as Your conduits of comfort to help in rescuing others today…use us, Father.  People and our connections with them are what keep our heart-fires burning, our family-ties tied, and our sense of being-loved alive. 

Bring us comfort today, Lord, and show us how to comfort those in need today, Father.  Amen. (2 Corinthians 1:8-10)


Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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