Comforted

Intro:

Life is full of challenges. There are times when we need such deep comfort. Family loss or disruption, job or role disappointment, ‘calling’ disillusionment, financial desperation… all create a need in us for deep comfort.

Opening Prayer:

Lord, when we’re in the midst of needing comforting ourselves, it’s so hard sometimes to comfort others. But then we remember that we comfort others with the comfort we have already received ourselves. So, Lord, it is the very vulnerability and authenticity which we show that helps us to most effectively comfort others. Help me to comfort others with the comfort I receive from you.

Amen

Bible Verse:

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)

Reflection:

…the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort – I love that when I think of who God is…to me and to every person…especially to us as Pastors and Church Leaders. He is the Father of compassion…that’s a lot of compassion…he is filled with compassion towards us and towards those we love and lead. And He is the God of all comfort. That means that there is no situation where he does not know how to comfort us or to guide us to comfort others. He knows just the comfort we need, in every situation. Hold onto that for yourself today. And remember that when you are pastorally caring for another human being who has a deep need for comfort as you pastor and lead them.

Whilst serving in a large church facilitating pastoral care for thousands of people, I found I became known as a funeral specialist. Even after two of the funerals, I remember people asking me if I could do their funeral when the time comes.

We comfort out of the comfort we ourselves have first received.

Where do you as a Pastor or leader need to experience comfort yourself today?

Prayer:

Thank you God, that you comfort me with beautiful comfort and a heart full of compassion. Help me Jesus to be a carrier of that comfort and compassion to others whatever the need and whatever the cause. Thank you God that I can rely upon you to give me the words when I don’t know them and to guide me what to do when I don’t know what to do. Because you are the Father of all compassion and God of all comfort.