Comfort In Grief

Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. (Isaiah 49: 13)

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5: 4)

Yesterday was a rough day; the past few days have been. We memorialized the life and buried the body of Carmen Sandifer, a dear family member who was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident last Saturday afternoon. She will be missed terribly.

I’ve been reflecting on the beauty of the Lord’s personal, individualized comfort for grieving loved ones.  When your circumstances warrant anything but peace, God Himself is peace within you.  He generates within you a strange peace that far exceeds logic and understanding.  He is hope, letting you know that the pain won’t be this intense forever and that He will walk right with you through every part of your present and future.  He is your provision, so that no matter what or whom you have lost, He will bring the supply of exactly what you need when you need it.  Our God is the God of all comfort! (II Corinthians 1: 3)

So what is comfort really?  The dictionary says, “the easing or alleviation of a person’s feelings of grief or distress.”  When you dig a little more deeply into the original language, . you find, “consolation in time of trouble or worry, solace, a feeling of relief or encouragement.”  Elements of the word also allude to strength. 

So the comfort God gives is more than just feeling a little better in the moment.  The comfort that the Lord provides is deep and life-changing.  Not only does He gradually alleviate the pain, He does not waste the crisis as raw material for blessings. .  Even life’s events or people’s choices that were never His will can be divinely and miraculously turned and used for your good.  (Romans 8: 28) 

Cling to Him desperately, listen to Him intensely, and learn to see your new world through His eyes.  He was not caught off guard.  He hasn’t had to hurriedly come up with a contingency plan.  He has known all along, and His plans for you, despite what has happened, have been in place a very, very long time.  

Grief can stubbornly linger and seem as if it will never go away.  However, if you are a person who is mourning a loss, receive the promise of Christ Himself.  You shall be comforted.  

Dear Jesus, the Word says that You are personally acquainted with grief and that we have a High Priest Who understands.  That’s a comfort in itself.  I give You permission to touch me deeply, to teach me significantly, and to heal and strengthen me as only You can.  I throw myself into Your embrace, and I draw on Your comfort, my God.