I am weary.
This has been a recurring thought in my head for well over 2 months now, as the onslaught of difficulties has been seemingly continuous. You know like when you are swimming in the ocean and you duck under one wave, come up for air, only to find that there is another one right on top of you? Well, my weeks have been a lot like that, riddled with constant challenges; everything from the mundane details, to the physical, to the financial, to the spiritual, even to the national (How many mass shootings occurred this past month?). God has me sharing this with you because we can all become weary, discouraged, and even a bit depressed, so we could all use some comfort. Our faithful Father in Heaven offers us this comfort, so let us bask in it together.
Let us take comfort in the fact that we are not alone in our suffering and that our suffering enables us to become a source of empathy and comfort for others.
1 Peter 5:9 “…knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “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 may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”
Let us take comfort in the fact that the Lord never leaves us to face life’s uncomfortable circumstances alone and they are, indeed, for our benefit.
Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Hebrews 13:5 “…I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Let us take comfort in the fact that this, too, shall pass. Our time on Earth is extremely short and when we handle suffering righteously, we bring glory to God.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
1 Peter 4:12-13 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
Let us take comfort in the fact that the peace of God is always available to us both in His Word and through prayer. If we desire His peace, we just need to seek it.
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
Let us take comfort in the fact that our Lord and Savior is forever faithful and our eternity will be spent in His presence… what could be better than that?
Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
John 14:1-3 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
In summary, I believe God would say to us, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).
Love in Christ,
Monica Ledford