Comfort
Who could have predicted that 2020 was going to be like this? It’s been five months now since lockdown was imposed in the UK. The scientists tell us that it could take two years for us to get through this, and any sign of a vaccine has been pushed back to summer next year.
So, this is the new normal. How are you doing? In my role I meet (online and now in a socially distant way) a variety of people who are coping in different ways. Everyone has been affected and for some it’s been very difficult, and there seems no end in sight.
So what do I do when people share their stories? One thing I try to do is to offer comfort by listening and praying. To be honest my tanks sometimes run low, however I have learnt to ‘refuel’ by turning to God. As Paul wrote in his second letter to the church in Corinth...
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father who is full of mercy and all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us.”
It’s good to know that the God I love and serve is full of mercy and comfort, and that His tank never runs dry. There is an endless supply for everyone. I too have known His comfort in some very low and difficult times in my life.
Here’s the thing, as I allow God to comfort me, I feel better, it is ‘soothed’. But then God also fills my tank so that I can then comfort others! Isn’t God so cool!
The Latin word ‘comfortare’ means to ‘strengthen greatly’. So, when God shows me comfort not only is there that soothing (like a bar of chocolate after a stressful day!) but there is also a deeper work of strengthening going on. God comforts us, so we can comfort others. Awesome!
Also, why not check out our live stream service every Sunday at 10:30am, simply go to www.hopebasingstoke.org/livestream
Stay safe
God bless
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader