We have a tendency to think when we are faced with suffering and sorrow we are undergoing an experience unknown to the truly committed child of God. Not true, beloved, not true! Suffering is a shared experience. Even the heroes of the faith faced suffering and sorrow of every kind and needed comfort from the King.
In Acts 18:9 we read, And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent.” Here we see that the greatest of all the apostles needed comfort in time of need. Fear was not foreign to the faithful. Comfort is needed by every child of God. Moses needed the comfort of God time and time again. Whether facing Pharaoh, the raging waters of the Red Sea, or on his 40 year death march, Moses continually needed the comfort of God. Samson needed the comfort of God while the thousand he slew with the jawbone of an ass lay dead on the ground. David the giant-slayer needed the comfort of God while on the run from King Saul. After one of the greatest victories recorded in Scripture, Elijah needed the comfort of God as he cried out for his own death. Peter who denied his Lord three times needed the comfort of God to get back up and feed His sheep.
Comfort is necessary because the story of our King is a story of suffering. And your story is part of His story. From being thrown out of the Garden (Adam and Eve) to thrown in prison (Peter and Paul) suffering is woven into the fabric of the lives of God’s people. Suffering is a result of sin and where there is suffering, there is comfort from the King with a promise of something even better. RENEWAL! In every moment of suffering and sorrow we have the promise of the King that the best is yet to come. All things will be made new and there will one day be no move tears, sorrow, or suffering. Receive His comfort today and know that He will not rest until you are brought safely home. This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT…AMEN!
Grace for the Race 