Presence, People & Promises

Last week we talked about whether grief is okay for Christians. Whether it's a sign of weak faith or if it's actually a Godly response to a broken world. We looked at how Jesus wept even though he knew Lazarus would be raised back to life. So we can still grieve, even though we know the promise of Heaven is coming.

So if you needed permission to grieve, there it is. Remember that Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." The blessing comes not through your grief, but through His comfort.

So how do we experience God’s comfort? That’s what we’ll be looking at today.

3 Types of Comfort

I’ll walk us through three main ways: through God’s presence, through God’s people, and through God’s promises.

Now I could just tell you about God's comfort, and give you some head knowledge to add to your collection. But there's a difference between knowing God comforts you and experiencing God comforting you. So as we go through these three ways God brings comfort, why not think about which one may be of particular help to you this week?

His Presence

The Holy Spirit is called many things, one of which is the comforter.

John writes about it. The amplified version puts John 14:26 like this.

John 14:26 (AMP)

But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counsellor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.

Paul writes about the comfort of God like this in 2 Corinthians chapter 1:

2 Cor 1:3-4a (NIV)

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,

He is the God of all comfort, and He comforts us in our troubles.

I’ve experienced this kind of comfort before, maybe you have too. 

For me, it was a tangible feeling of the presence of God. And I suddenly felt so light in the midst of my grief and disappointment. And the only way I can really explain it was like someone had taken my face in their hands, and just comforted me. 

That was it. Did I automatically feel better straight after that? No. That’s not the point of comfort, it’s a byproduct of it after a while, but it’s more about experiencing comfort in that moment simply because you’re loved, than trying to move you out of a certain emotion.

What’s more significant? Rushing to get out of the moment, or experiencing God’s comfort in it?

I’m not an advocate for dwelling in the moment, I’m also not an advocate for moving on too quickly.

The point of comfort is comfort. 

And God is the God of all comfort.

You aren’t comforted so you hurry up and move on. You’re comforted because you’re loved.

And one of the ways we can experience comfort is through the presence of the Holy Spirit, the comforter.

There’s a difference between the general presence of God - God is everywhere - and the tangible, manifest presence of God. 

So, when you need comfort, slow down for a sec, don’t rush to move on from the moment, and invite the Holy Spirit to comfort you.  

His People

God also comforts us through His people.

I’ve already read out the start of this verse but let me finish what Paul said.

2 Cor 1:3-4 (NIV)

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.

This is comforting for two reasons. 

One, because it means there are people around you, who having grieved, and having been comforted by God, are now equipped to comfort you. Because they’ve been comforted by God, they can now be a comfort to those around them.

Two, because it means that good things can come from your grief. Now it isn’t the point of grief, God doesn’t send bad things our way just so we can help other people who have bad things sent their way. But in the midst of my own grief, it comforts me to know that this is equipping me to be a person of comfort for someone else. It adds some meaning.

This is why community is so important. When we’re in relationship with others, investing in them, sharing with them, celebrating with them, it becomes much more natural to also grieve with them. And to be comforted or be a comforter, depending on what we need.

So if you’re grieving this morning, know that God has equipped His people to comfort you. But they aren’t mind-readers, you’ll have to let people in, and not let your pride rob  you of the comfort promised. Vulnerability makes way for comfort. 

And if you aren’t grieving this morning, but you know what it’s like to receive God’s comfort, be on the lookout for ways you can be a comfort to others. A meal, a prayer, a text, a safe place to share.

His Promise

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the Bible. We don’t know for certain who wrote it. It’s a psalm that glorifies God and His Word.

Psalm 119:49-50 (NLT)

Remember your promise to me;

    it is my only hope.

Your promise revives me;

    it comforts me in all my troubles.

Your promise comforts me in all my troubles.

As well as God’s presence, as well as his people, we can find comfort in God’s Word, in His promises to us. 

Comfort is experienced. I can tell you that God comforts you, you can know intellectually that God comforts you, but there’s a deeper level of experiencing God comforting you through His Word.

I’ll give you some promises you could hold onto this week: 

Scripture to Hold Onto

Psalm 94:18-19 (NIV)

When I said, “My foot is slipping,”

    your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.

When anxiety was great within me,

    your consolation brought me joy.

Psalm 34:4-5,8 (NIV)

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

    he delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant;

    their faces are never covered with shame.

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Isaiah 43:1b-2 (NIV)

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters,

    I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

    they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

    you will not be burned;

    the flames will not set you ablaze.

Psalms 121:1-2 (NIV)

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

This Week

So rather than ending with a question, here's what I want you to try this week.

Pick one of these three ways to experience God’s comfort and practice receiving it - God's presence, God's people, or God's promises.

If you pick God's presence: When you notice grief this week, slow down. Don't rush past it. Invite the Holy Spirit to comfort you in that moment. You might feel His tangible presence, you might not. But the invitation itself is an act of positioning yourself to receive the comfort you need.

If you pick God's people: Let someone in. Send that text or make that phone call. Ask someone to pray for you. Or if you're not grieving right now, be that person for someone else and send a check in message or drop off a meal.

If you pick God's promises: Pick one of the passages I just read and come back to it when you need comfort this week. Don't just read it, sit with it and let God speak to you through it.

You could know all three of these ways God brings comfort and still never experience it. So this week, don't just know it. Try it. Pick one and see what happens.

Because blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Prayer

Lord, we thank you that those who mourn are blessed because they will be comforted. And so I lift up each person listening who needs to experience your comfort today. Would they know it, Lord Jesus. Would you comfort them, and remind them of the hope they have in you. In your precious name Jesus amen.