There are times when we go through trials and we need God's comfort for things that happen beyond our control. Then there are times when we need His comfort for the fiery trials we are assigned to.
Second Corinthians 1:3 tells us, "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort." Comfort is defined in the Biblical Greek as "encouragement for the purpose of strengthening." Webster's online dictionary defines comfort as a strengthening aid. God strengthens us for anything that He allows us to go through.
The thing that I've been learning lately is that God is not always concerned with us being comfortable. He will strategically place you in a position of discomfort in order to fulfill a purpose and plan that He has for you and for others. He is either trying to get something to you, through you to someone else, or both. God never does anything without a purpose and He uses these times to stretch us and mature us. He loves us enough to inconvenience us with what we may feel is a very uncomfortable trial in order to use us to make an impact on the lives of other people. But for me, this has been a season where I am the sacrifice that's being offered up to Him through obedience, no matter how much I've wanted to remove myself from the situation altogether because it's been so challenging. I know in my heart that I'm called to be there for reasons that only God truly knows at the moment, but I trust that He will reveal in due time.
In this time I've learned how important it is to not try to do this season in my own strength because my strength depletes quickly and nothing but the flesh is glorified. But when I yield myself and the circumstance to Him, He strengthens me to continue moving forward and He is glorified through me and the lives that He wants me to touch can receive. His strength carries us and He gives us the grace to do anything He has called us to do. Jesus had his moment in the Garden when He shared with us how agonizing it was for Him to go to the Cross, but He yielded His will and said, "Lord, not my will but thy will be done." We all have to have our thy will be done moments in life and we all have to carry our cross just like Jesus did. It's not a matter of being comfortable, but He does promise us His comfort (strength) and to go through the journey with us.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord, thank you that you walk with us through every season, even those seasons of uncomfortable circumstances. You see the end from the beginning, so we trust that your grand plan will play out as we continue to walk in obedience and surrender. We trust that you will reveal what you're doing in due time. We continue to thank you for the strength and the grace to grow through the difficult season. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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