Comfort - God Is So Good

Welcome to my Wednesday feature God is So Good.  Here I will share stories - true and fiction, mine and others' - of the  Lord's presence in the midst of trials, struggles, and difficulties.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33b

They say that as soon as you buy a car, suddenly all you see are other ones just like it. You didn't notice them before - but once you're the proud owner of your, say purple Chevy minivan, every third car you see is identical.

Apparently, it's not that all of a sudden everyone and their dog went out and bought a car just like yours (you are likely NOT a trendsetter, I'm sorry to say!). It's just that once you own something like that, you begin to notice others' similar vehicles more readily. Perhaps you're hypersensitive to it.

I've been feeling like that lately. No - not about cars (haven't had a new one in a while). About being the wife of a struggling husband.

It seems like more than a handful of my female friends and acquaintances are taking care of ill, injured, or struggling spouses. Car crashes. Cancer. Unemployment. You name it. It appears that, at least lately, if you're married and know me, there's a fair chance something (not so good) is going on with your hubby.

And I can relate. AND, perhaps most importantly, I can help.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

Because I've been there (not exactly there, but in a similar situation), I can use the blessed comfort the Lord gave (and gives) me to try to comfort my dear sisters. But do you know what is amazing? One phrase in this passage makes its implications so much more. Did you catch it?

IN ANY TROUBLE

God comforts us in all our troubles - which allows us to comfort those IN ANY TROUBLE. I don't even need to have "been there" specifically. If God has comforted me, I can use that same comfort to comfort others. Sure, when the situation is similar, the comforting may come more naturally, or feel (to the giver anyway) more effective - but our God is more powerful than that.

If we let Him use us, we can be that comfort to our struggling friends. And that, my friends, is what He wants us to do - one of the reasons we're here.

So whether your own circumstances are like that of your struggling friends or not, if God has ever comforted you (and I KNOW He has), you can help. Amazing. God is SO good!

Do you have a story you'd like to share about God's goodness in your struggles? Drop me an email and we can talk!

Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength