when tragedy strikes
why suffering?
the suffering of fools
temptations, tests, and trials
why does God test man, part one
testing and the education of life
what my cat taught me about testing, and trusting
why does God test man, part two
we are the clay
judging suffering
when we suffer: a warning
help when we hurt
flip the switch
the poetry of drawing near
hearts wounded by suffering
what my thimble taught me
pride: the hidden problem with hardness
portrait of a yielded heart
the poetry of a yielded heart
comfort when we suffer
taking comfort: psalm 42
the poetry of taking comfort
We have been talking about the principle of taking comfort: that is, rather than waiting for the Lord to twang us with His fairy godmother wand with the feeling of comfort, to encourage our own souls by speaking the truth from God’s word, and taking comfort in the truth.
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rom 15:13
Notice that Paul here expects believers to be filled with joy and peace—which are feelings—“in believing.” In believing the God of hope, the believers abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. And there are more Scriptures which equate comfort and hope with believing God’s word:
“This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life.” Psa 119:50
“When I think of Your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.” Psa 119:52
“Comfort, comfort My people, says Your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.” Isa 40:1-2
But comforting ourselves is not the end of God’s comfort …
comfort as a mother comforts
a rabbit trail
the joy of intimacy
the poetry of intimacy
God’s comforting presence
why don’t I feel God?
christians and suffering
back from the abyss
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