Consolation

Consolation means to comfort someone during his or her time of mourning, loss of loved one, stressful sitations, divorce or during anxious times. Today, we live in a society where you can look around and find someone who needs to be comforted. Each of us have loved ones who are sick or in the process of leaving this world to enter into eternity. How can we really offer them comfort unless we truly understand what it is like to be close to death. It is not easy to show comfort to someone when you have never experienced the same situations. God uses each of us to minister to those who are where we have been. Only true comfort during these times can come from Christ. One day soon each of us may lose a loved one we hold very near and dear, then we will need the same consolation from those around us and Christ. We read in Job where he lost his family, his livestock, his friends and everyone around him mocked him. His friends did not come to console him but to put more on him. Yet, Job did not put his trust in his friends, but he relied upon the Lord to comfort him. Job stated, "I will not curse God and die but why should I only accept the good from God and not the evil (Job 2:10)." Several years ago, a close friend of mine lost her mother and I wanted to comfort her but I did not understand the lost she felt until I lost my dad. Now, I know the lost of losing a parent. We can show comfort to those around us by listening, crying with them, preparing a meal, running errands, sitting with children and many other ways. Let us seek out those that are in need of being comforted so we can lift up the Name of Jesus to them. In Psalm 23:4 the Lord tell us, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." As we reach out to comfort those who are hurting let us remember that God's word brings comfort to those who seek Him and will draw nigh unto Him. Let us tell others God truly understands the situation and will offer them comfort and He will lift that heavy burden. As Psalm 119:50 states, "This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word hath quickened me." Isaiah 49:13 states, "Sing, O heavens and be joyful, O earth and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people and will have mercy upon His afflicted. Thank God for His grace which offers each of us comfort in the time of need. (Written 6/24/08)