ALLOW THE FATHER OF COMPASSION TO COMFORT YOU IN YOUR TRIALS
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“Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones.” – Isaiah 49:13
Are you in a time of trial? Is your life burdened with sorrow, grief, pain? Are you experiencing anxiety, fear, loneliness, despair?
When the world presses in… when troubles overwhelm… when times seem more than we can bear, the God of all comfort is our Refuge. He created us with a need to be comforted. He is the Author of comfort. The comfort of the world is transitory. The comfort of the Lord is eternal.
Jesus sought times alone with the Father for solace and encouragement in His earthly ministry. After His temptations by Satan in the wilderness, His Father brought angels to comfort Him. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus looked to the Father for strength to carry on with His life’s mission.
Our heavenly Father will offer His comfort to us when we seek Him in our times of trial. When we are feeling dry and parched, withered by troubles and woes, we look to our Father’s showers of refreshing comfort. He will bless us with consolation and compassion, encouragement and strength, courage and hope.
Yet we are not to wait for the storms of life to seek our Lord’s comfort. When we look to Him to comfort us in the peaceful times of our lives, He will strengthen us for the storms. We will face future trials with a deeper awareness of His presence and peace… with an untroubled heart even amidst a world of troubles.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
God also desires that we offer comfort to those in our world. When we have experienced the consolation of the Lord in our trials, we can offer a sympathetic heart to loved ones and friends experiencing the darkness of similar trials. We can point them to the One whose love and comfort is immeasurable… who will bring His Light to their darkness.
Let the God of all comfort give you His perfect solace and consolation. On occasion we may need to be reminded of His everpresent comfort. Whether your times are peaceful or stormy, allow these verses to speak to your spirit as from your loving Father… the Father of compassion… to help you remember that you are always and forever His.
† Verses for times of sorrow or grief:
“You who are my Comforter in sorrow, my heart is faint within me.” – Jeremiah 8:18
“Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes, You will revive me once again.” – Psalm 71:20
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” – Matthew 5:4
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18
“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” – Psalm 126:5
“I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.” – Jeremiah 31:13
“My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” – Exodus 33:14
† Verses for times of suffering or pain:
“I, even I, am He who comforts you.” – Isaiah 51:12
“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” – Isaiah 66:13
“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” – Isaiah 46:4
“For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 1:5
“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” – Psalm 119:50
“I will rejoice and be glad in Your faithful love because You have seen my affliction. You have known the troubles of my life.” – Psalm 31:7
“I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.” – Psalm 116:1-2
† Verses for times of loneliness, rejection or despair:
“Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.” – Psalm 9:10
“Comfort me with Your love, just as You have promised.” – Psalm 119:76
“You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.” – Psalm 71:21
“May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
“The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the Lord is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.” – Isaiah 30:18
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23
† Verses for times of anxiety, stress or fear:
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:4
“You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” – Psalm 32:7
“When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort delights my soul.” – Psalm 94:19
“By day the Lord commands His steadfast love, and at night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.” – Psalm 42:8
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me.” – John 14:1
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.” – John 14:27
“In Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
