The Secret of FindingComfort

In Psalm 90, Moses makes what appears to be a very depressing assessment concerning life. (Psa 90:9-10 NIV) All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. {10} The length of our days is seventy years-- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

However, like Moses, we sometimes forget the promises of God to comfort us in our times of sorrow and trouble if we seek it. The secret of finding comfort when we feel overwhelmed, defeated, unloved, and alone is knowing to whom and where to look. Allow me to share with you these sources of comfort:

1. Our Gracious Father2. Our Loving Jesus3. Our Holy Spirit4. Our Holy Bible5. Our Devoted Teachers6. Our Precious Assembly (the church)7. Our Promised Future

Let’s consider each one.

1. The Father’s Comfort Is to Be Sought for These Reasons: a. The Father’s ministry of comfort to us

can become the comfort we offer to others.

(2 Cor 1:3-4 NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

{4} who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

b. The Father’s ministry of comfort is there for those who seem to have no hope.  (Psa 68:4-6 NIV) Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds -- his name is the LORD-- and rejoice before him. {5} A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. {6} God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

c. The Father’s ministry of comfort is the reward of minds focused upon Him. (Isa 26:3-4 NIV) You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. {4} Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

d. The Father’s ministry of comfort is the antidote to all of our anxieties when sought in prayer.

(Phil 4:6-7 NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. {7} And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

e. The comfort God gives comes from His care for us.

(1 Pet 5:7 NIV) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

2. The Son Ministers His Comfort in These Ways: a. He will speak up for us when we sin. (1 John 2:1-2 NIV) My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

{2} He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

b. He will lessen the burden of our lives and give us rest. (Mat 11:28-30 NIV) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. {29} Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. {30} For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

c. He can guarantee the peace He gives— not so with the world. (John 14:27 NIV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

3. The Holy Spirit Offers His Comfort in the Following Ways: a. The Holy Spirit’s continual nurturing presence in us. (John 14:16-18 NIV) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- {17} the Spirit of truth.

The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. {18} I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

b. The Holy Spirit’s conviction of the world and Satan. (John 16:7-11 NIV) But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. {8} When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:

{9} in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; {10} in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; {11} and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

c. The Holy Spirit’s revelation to us of things we need to know now and in the future. (John 16:13-15 NIV) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. {14} He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.

{15} All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

4. The Word of God Is a Source of Comfort When We Are Instructed by Its Examples and Teachings. (Rom 15:4 NIV) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

a. We have hundreds of examples of those who were victorious through various trials. (Hebews 11: Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, etc.)

b. We have hundreds of promises that God will always be with us in all of our trials.

1) Testings and trials in life do not have to defeat us,

(1 Cor 10:13 NIV) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

2) Death after life does not have to defeat us.

(Rom 8:11 NIV) And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

5. The Timely Preaching of God’s Word to Current Needs Bings Comfort from that Which Destroys Fellowship:

a. Correcting wrong thinking brings comfort.b. Reproving sin brings comfort.c. Faithful and continual exhortation to godly attitudes and actions fosters a comforting environment.

(2 Tim 4:2 NIV) Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.

6. The Fellowship of the Church Brings Comfort When We Do the Following:

a. We prod each other to love and doing good for each other.b. We attending church regularly so that we may encourage one anotherc. We rejoice and weep with each other.d. Ease one another’s burdens.

Consider these passages.:

(Heb 10:24-25 NIV) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. {25} Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

(Rom 12:15 NIV) Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

(Gal 6:2 NIV) Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

7. Knowing Our Ultimate Future Brings Comfort. (1 Th 4:13-18 NIV) Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. {14} We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

{15} According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. {16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

{17} After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. {18} Therefore encourage each other with these words.