Isaiah 40:1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

We have a strange relationship with the word, comfort, in English. As a verb, as it is here, it is an emotional thing, but as a noun, it can mean what is given by the verb, or it can mean something entirely physical, and the adjective, comfortable, takes it entirely in that direction. That can leave us somewhat confused as to exactly what the Lord is talking about here. I am reminded of the very true saying that God is far more concerned with our character than with our comfort. This verse isn’t talking about putting us in a nice, soft chair! We even speak of a high income as “comfortable circumstances!” That is of very little importance, because it is strictly temporal. Emotional pain can be far deeper than physical pain, but we sometimes try to mask the emotional by dealing entirely with physical issues, which doesn’t work. Just ask someone who has just lost a loved one whether they care about how soft their chair is! God is here speaking of the emotional and spiritual support that only He can provide. All too often we lose sight of that reality and try to cover up the ache in our heart with physical pleasures, but it never works in the long run. We need to remember that one of the titles for Holy Spirit is “the Comforter.” He is the One who can touch our heart where it really hurts and bring the healing we need.

I have experienced both comfort and discomfort both physically and emotionally. In college at one point I simply wanted to die, and I tried to do it, but God stopped me. That’s why I know that suicide is both self-centered and stupid. I haven’t endured active persecution for my faith, but I have certainly experienced disappointments, both with myself and with others. I have experienced medical issues, but compared to my wife, certainly nothing to speak of. I have experienced the loss of my parents, and I anticipate the loss of others close to me. All of that makes me very grateful for the comfort that only God can give. I am never to put others down for the pain they are experiencing, whether it be physical or emotional, but rather seek to be a channel of God’s comfort to them. Sometimes that comfort requires repentance to be received; sin is never to be excused. However, my focus is never to be on inflicting pain, but rather on healing it. I am all too adept at inflicting emotional pain!

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for the privilege of speaking on this verse this morning. I pray that my words would be yours indeed, both comforting those who hear them and inspiring them to be agents of Your comfort as well, for the blessing of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!