A Story with a Reason
December 10, 2019
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. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV
Yesterday a friend contacted me on Facebook with a link to an article she wanted me to read. The author is a female pastor, just about my age, who suddenly became a widow two years ago. She is a year ahead of me on this challenging journey. Her husband died two years ago just before Christmas; mine left me for heaven just after Christmas almost a year ago. My friend wanted me to read this story because she thought it might encourage me and help me. It did. I could identify with the experiences the author had. My empathy was ignited, and I rejoiced in the goodness of God we both were experiencing. I felt anew the comfort and grace of God.
That’s exactly what prompted Paul to praise God in his letter to his Corinthian friends. He readily owned that a variety of afflictions come to all of us. We have that in common. He assured them and us that in our painful experiences and messes, God comforts us as we communicate with Him. We are never alone in our pain. He strengthens us, gives us wisdom, lifts our hearts, and grows us. But it was never His intent for what He does for us to stop with us. He wants us to be conduits of His comfort, grace, strength, and wisdom. Others around us go through the same messes we experience. We are all in the world that sin broke, and now nothing works as it was originally intended. However, God has exactly what we need to have victory, no matter what our situation. He wants us to open ourselves to receive it first, and then open our hands and heart to pass it on to others who need the help and comfort He gave us. We are His hands to bless others.
When and where has God entered your mess to help and comfort you? What did you learn? How did God come through for you? How can you share that with others in need? Every experience you have becomes a tool to help other people. Did you have a miscarriage? Lose a beloved spouse? Get fired? Go through a painful divorce? Experience debilitating depression? Have an addiction? Have a wayward child? None of those are reasons for shame—those are reasons for sharing what God did for you. Everyone you know experiences the mess of brokenness in one area or another. God wants you to experience the joy of being used by Him to comfort and help them the way He comforted and helped you.
- Run a quick evaluation. What’s in your toolkit of past experiences where God showed up and you can encourage someone else?
- Pray every day, starting now: “God, help me to not waste my pain and growth. Help me find those who need my story and then share with patience and grace.”