Our Comforter
My heart is so burdened the past couple of weeks. My soul is restless and my mind searching for God’s truths. The realization that I am no longer young has really sunk in the past few months. The common saying, “I’ll do that in a few years,” needs to happen now. My “few years” are coming and going so quickly. I am now “middle aged” and while as a physician, I know that people become sick and things happen, these “people” are now my friends, colleagues, and people I know. Several friends are either battling things right now or have lost loved ones. Life can be so hard and unfair, but in the midst of it all I ask “how can I help?” I was talking to a dear friend and she mentioned we really need to find the “controllables”. While this doesn’t take away my heart break for them, it does help me to focus on God’s Kingdom purpose. Maybe you can relate?
I found myself restless, up at 3am several mornings praying to God, asking things like “how can I help” and “why is this happening?” What he laid on my heart this morning is from Philippians 4. Here Paul is encouraging and thanking the people of Philipi and he tells them in verses 4 to 7, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Did you catch that? The Lord is near! He will bring comfort. He will not leave us! He will help! We don’t have to worry or try to carry the burden of the cross because Jesus already did that. You see, the heavenly Father knows loss. Paul goes on to say that we should focus on things that are “true, noble, right, pure, admirable, lovely and praiseworthy.” Things we can do to serve those who need help. Put these good things into practice. He then AGAIN, says that in doing this the Peace of God will be with us. The more I read and re-read Philippians, the more I remembered that Jesus also knows pain, suffering, and loneliness. His life was short, and it was not easy. Rejected by many, constantly trying to prove who he was to save others and he ultimately died to save us all. So, while I don’t know why things happen as they do, I am finding peace in this. I want to encourage you to do the same.
If you are in a dark place, pray and know that others are praying with you today. God is the great comforter and loves you so much! He does not want our minds to stay in dark places…let him bring light. You and I are not good to anyone if we stay in a place of darkness. While this is what the enemy desires, don’t let him win. This is a “controllable”! We can choose our attitudes and how we live whatever life we have left. I’m not implying that there is not a time and a place for mourning, grief, sorrow and processing things. In fact God tells us there is in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. What I am saying is we should not stay in that place. We all go through different struggles as The Lord has us all on different paths, but remember we are to love and lift those up around us that may not be able to stand on their own. Give those you love extra hugs, encourage a friend, pray for our country and those all over the world doing and going through hard things. God hears our prayers and I believe does provide peace. We already know who wins so let’s rest in that.