Comfort When Affliction Fills Our Heart

Comfort When Affliction Fills Our Heart 

I will lift up my hands also unto thy commandments, which I have loved; And I will meditate on thy statutes. Remember the word unto thy servant, Because thou hast made me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction; for thy word hath quickened me. (Psalms 119:48-50)

 On this earthly sojourn "things" happen to us that sometimes seem to be unbearably harsh. Who among us has not at some point felt like punching a hole in the wall. Hearts have been broken, lives disrupted, days have been long and difficult, and some nights it seems as if sleep will never come. All this because "things" happen to us and often we do not understand why they happen. Friends, we are all frail, weak, flawed human beings and "things" are going to happen to us that will try our faith (James 1:2-4, 12). Sometimes faith will bring about a change in a particular circumstance that envelopes us. Sometimes faith will not bring about a change. We must never let the circumstances surrounding us determine what kind of faith we have in God. Our faith may be little (Luke 12:28), weak (Romans 4:19), great (Luke 7:9) or strong (Romans 4:20). We need that great, strong faith that will allow us to trust God at all times (Psalms 62:8; Romans 8:28, 31; Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 40:28-31).

There is no doubting that in those times of affliction, one source of comfort springs from the love and fellowship we have with one another (1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 1:6; Romans 12:15).  However, there is no better source of comfort to be found for our troubled hearts than that which comes from God through his word. This is a comfort that reaches deep into our hearts and if allowed to dwell there will impart to us a measure of strength and courage that will soothe our troubled souls.

 I dearly love the words of Isaiah 40:31: "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint". My knowledge of eagles is very limited. I once read that eagles have the ability to sense when a storm is approaching and will take flight, soaring high into the heavens where they are safely above the storm. The thought occurs to this writer that trusting our Lord with complete confidence, trusting him with a faith that is strong and steadfast will enable you and I to soar above the storms that threaten us and thus find comfort in all of our afflictions whatever they may be.

 Our God is able and willing at all times to comfort our troubled souls (1 Peter 5:6-7; Hebrews 4:16). We only have to reach out with an earnest desire and embrace those exceedingly great and precious promises found in God's word.

 Charles Hicks