This blog post digs deeper and gets into the meat of the word Comfort, which is in the title of Persevere: Comfort and Hope for Dark Days. Check out the introductory post here and the previous post about the word persevere.
Comfort
Come here. I just want to hold you. I often hear those words when I am upset. Angry, distraught, frustrated, or sad. Whether my emotions are just beginning to show, or they have already tumbled as a torrent, My husband calls me to his side: Come here. I just want to hold you. Outstretched arms and eyes of love. I crumple into his embrace. He doesn’t say anything at first. His heart soaks up my tears. When the time is right, he speaks. He helps me sort through my thoughts. Listening. Asking questions. Gently inviting me to share. When he has held me, and we have spoken, I am comforted.
This is a precious little picture that I get to see often.
Because as my husband comforts me,
My Heavenly Father is working through him.
God always works like that.
Not just through my husband,
He’s done it through other people, too.
Someone calls to ask about a matter she knows is bothering me.
A friend seeks me out to ask me how I’m doing.
They listen.
They ask questions.
They speak truth to my soul.
This is comfort.
This is encouragement.
Those two words go hand-in-hand.
They mean to give strength.
To hearten.
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 will 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
This word comfort is translated from the Greek παρακαλέω (parakaleo) 1
It means to call near, or call alongside.
Think of it!
God is calling you to His side.
He’s like my loving husband:
Come here. I just want to hold you.
He’s like my faithful friend:
Just thought I’d call to see how you were doing.
That’s heartening.
That’s strengthening.
To know you are loved and cared for.
You are comforted in all your affliction…
So that you can comfort those in any affliction.
So how do you do it?
How do you give comfort to someone?
Well… call them alongside you.
Listen.
Ask questions.
And then, speak truth.
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4
The Scriptures were written to encourage.
That’s the same word as comfort.
Give strength.
Hearten.
Call alongside.
Soak in the Scriptures.
As you do, you’ll see all the times that God came through for each person.
And that will give you hope.
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