Comfort: Not Taking Any Scraps

"I, even I, am he who comforts you." ~ Isaiah 51:12

Friends come and go, but there is One who never leaves.

When others forget us, neglect us, or misunderstand us, there's still Someone as near as our breath. He's not just the Comforter, but the God of ALL comfort, and my God doesn't give scraps.

"We may venture to hope sometimes that little scraps of comfort may be granted to us. But we run away frightened at the thought of the all comfort that is ours in the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ" (Hannah Whitall Smith).

I don't know if we're frightened of all comfort, as much as we don't believe we'll receive it.

I was never comforted much in my childhood, left to endure a lot of pain in silence. As an adult, it's easy to revert back to "nobody really cares" and pull back, trying to comfort myself. But this is the Lord's job, to comfort all who mourn. Those who don't need the comfort won't, of course, experience His comfort, but that's why I think it's good when we're afflicted. We then experience what we've read in the Scriptures - His promises, His comfort, His indwelling life, and, oh my - grace upon grace.

"But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us..." ~ 2 Corinthians 7:6

"For the Lord comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song." ~ Isaiah 51:3

When I'm downcast or ambling through the dark, I remember He sees what I need. He understands every ache, every sigh, every tear, and wants to lift any despair. So many personal trials have placed me in the tender position to sense His Everlasting Arms. God's words may fall deaf on hearts that sense no need, but here in my aloneness, I'm ready to receive.

And so I'm reminded of words I underlined long ago: "God knows that it is better for us to need His comfort and receive it, than for us not to need it and be without it" (Hannah Whitall Smith).

I'm filled with need on any given day. We're all needy, whether we realize or not. And I think we're drawn into closer union with Him when we give up pretending, and receive every bit of His comfort. Not scraps of His comfort, so that we still go around with lack, but ALL comfort - just as He said.

"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." ~ Matthew 5:4

Because, eventually, life will take a turn from what we've known and loved. It might be hard to believe words of comfort then, but in my experience, God bends low to comfort because He's our Daddy. When we turn our thoughts to His comfort and let the power of His Spirit move through His Word, unbelief has no room to grow and comfort is ours to keep.

Husband's Surgery

Mr. G. had a radical prostatectomy for treatment of his prostate cancer today. Surgery went well - no surprises or complications - and we're grateful for the way this day went. As he begins his recovery, we're waiting on the pathology report to make sure cancer hasn't spread beyond the prostate. We might know as early as Monday. Thanks for all your prayers.

Losing but Gaining

"...this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it."~ 1 Peter 5:12

It can be a frightening prospect to lose control and let God have His way with us when we're in crisis. But the Lord moves in gentleness and peace. He can be trusted. While we come to the end of our own soul-strength (giving up our panic-driven struggle to stay afloat) the Holy Spirit makes the life of Christ within us a deeper reality as we depend on Him.

The cheerfulness of others seems ironic when I'm lost in pain, or overwhelmed with the unfairness of earthly living. Aw, but that's all a moot point when my heavenly gaze is restored. What if no one understands my plight? The Lord is mine.

And yet this is a death process - losing my grip on earthly attachments, surrendering self. We talk so much about death and losses, but there's a profound resurrection: joy and peace in the One who longs to live His strong life in us.

If you're a friend to someone who is suffering losses, be sensitive and caring. Let the person grieve, lament, complain, even resist at first. There may be vocal despair as she comes to the end of herself. Our job is not the pep talk or reprimand. God bless the person who comes alongside us in heartache, praying when we cannot, loving us when we feel most unlovable, and ministering when we're nearly nonfunctional.

Feeling reduced of all strength, God meets us in our extremity. I find over and over again, no matter my trial, His strength undergirds me.

Personal Update

The grandkids arrived today so we're having Camp Gigi for a few days. Some of you asked about Mr. G. - thank you. He's doing fine - had a cystoscopy this week. No tumors or problems within the bladder or urinary tract. His doctor wanted to make sure there are no surprises the day of surgery (later this month) when they remove his prostate. So THANK YOU for praying. I appreciate all your comments and emails. Will post soon.

Smack Dab in the Middle

"I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord’s mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him my troubles. When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, ‘You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life." ~ Psalm 142:1-3, 5

My mind has traveled all over the map lately, but two thoughts stick with me:

1. Anyone can point out something false or wrong, but to know what is true, I need revelation.

2. Unless I personally experience Truth, I'm only rehearsing religious sentiment or rheteric.

Take suffering for instance. I may be hurting and full of pain, yet able to recall what I know about God's love. But unless I start to experience His love and care in my circumstance, what I've known up to that point doesn't help me much.

Sometimes we learn much, but know little.

Epignosis: full knowledge; precise and correct knowledge (from the Greek lexicon).

"...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." ~ Philippians 3:10-11

When we know Him, there is power in Him that undergirds us through difficulties.

If I'm discouraged, is it because I'm relying on something I thought I knew about Him? Am I upset because He isn't doing what I think He should do? What if I cast myself utterly into His care, much like the psalmist above, desperate to experience Him, in and through my circumstances, even if they never change?

When I'm looking to Him, not just for pain relief - though He does comfort me - I find Him smack dab in the middle of it all.

"Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, 'You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.' "~ Psalm 142:5

Miscellany & Faith

Quick update:

I'm way behind in Cyber-world but appreciate your comments, even in my absence. Hopefully, I'll post soon - my brain's been on overload. Mr. G. has a cystoscopy scheduled second week in June to rule out anything peculiar in the bladder, followed by prostate surgery the 25th. Thanks for your continued prayers.

Heard this the other day: "Legalism is focusing on our commitment to Christ, rather than His commitment to us."

Where is your focus today?

When I think about His love, and how He continues to meet my various needs, I'm blessed. It's a relief to rely on Him - instead of myself - but I'm definitely focused on His commitment to me.

And God is faithful.

What We Already Have

"Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." ~ Mark 11:24

Something hit me as I read this verse today. So many times I've prayed for peace, patience, strength, victory - whatever- when all along they're readily available to me in Christ. Fear and pain may cloud this truth, but grace opens our eyes. There is keeping power in Christ to sustain us through the most difficult situations.

As I see this more and more, truth changes the way I pray. Instead of begging for these things, which are never given apart from Christ anyway, my prayers now acknowledge His Spirit's work in me. Confessing my need and dependence on Him is the first thing I do, trusting His Life to come forth moment by moment, grace upon grace, as I go about living.

The more we spend time knowing Christ through His Word, the more His Spirit increases our faith. His grace makes everything possible, even to believe.

Wondering how to pray for someone? Without knowing the particulars of anyone's circumstances, we can still pray like Paul prayed for the Ephesians when he said:

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." ~Ephesians 1:17-19

Trusting that the eyes of our hearts, not just our minds, will be enlightened all the more as we abide in Him, our very Life source and Peace in troubled times.