THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT WANTS YOU content, not comfortable. God is a God of comfort. I was reading my FB memories this morning and I had written one about putting down our beloved dog Ranger. On a Tuesday afternoon, five years ago, I had to put down my beloved Ranger dog. My son and I stayed in the room with him until the very end. I not only lost my faithful running partner and companion, but I had to watch my son lose his friend he had with him his whole life. My heart is broken. The house is eerie quiet and empty. His presence has left a hole.
Growing up, my mom was a severe alcoholic and I’m a typical child of an alcoholic- don’t trust, don’t feel, don’t share. So, when I go through things, I tend to hole myself up and bottle myself in. Don’t trust. Don’t feel. Don’t share. Is any of this familiar? What do you do when you’re broken hearted? Do you reach out to others? They will fail you. Those who you think will be there for you, won’t be there. Family will fail you. Friends will fail you. I will fail you. But there is One who will never fail. I have learned that my God is the God of all comfort.
“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalms 34:17-19
“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 tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
II Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV
He comforts us in order that we might know how to comfort others in their pain and suffering. He is a good Father. However, being comfortable is something different. Comfortable people become lazy and apathetic with the status quo. Comfortable is akin to lukewarm. The comfortable have become OK with the slop and mud, it feels good on their skin.
The comfortable person is deceived about their spiritual condition, so they do not care about yours. In their comfortableness, they erroneously believe God is not only pleased with them, but that He is blessing them. Now, contentment YES! “Godliness with contentment is great gain”. This word “content” in the Greek translates as “to avail, satisfactory, be enough”. It carries with it the idea of raising a barrier to ward off. Therefore to be content in all circumstances as Paul said, “I have learned to be content whether I am abased or whether I abound”; is to raise a barrier against destructive and corrupting sins such as: greed, jealousy, malice, anger, covetousness, bitterness, self pity and the like.
You are to be content with what you have and what God is doing in you at all times, not just in times of prosperity. He is working something out, Be content. He will answer, be content. He will provide, be content. He will (fill in the blank). Be content. He will comfort. Be content.
During this season, God wants you on the edge of your seat ready to go, not lounging lazily in your LazyBoy recliner. Don’t miss what He wants to do in this season by becoming comfortable in your condition. If you have everything you need, or if you are struggling, be content. Sow righteousness. Sow peace. Sow joy. You reap what you sow. Be content and stop grumbling and complaining. Remember Israel. If you need help, cry out to Him. He will come and comfort. But beware of the idol of comfortableness.
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page