LA # 0811
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<||> My Source: THE RESTORER, Nov/Dec 1992
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<||> Author: Mike Vestal
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<||> File Under: Comfort
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COMFORT FOR TROUBLED HEARTS
by Mike Vestal
When our lives are falling apart and our hearts are writhing in pain, the thing we seek most is COMFORT. To much of the world the search for comfort in times of grief and pain is futile. It constitutes a never-ending exploration for that which does not exist. Our hurts are seen as something that can be lessened only by the passing of time. But no amount of time can erase the scars that have been inflicted.
Children of God cannot subscribe to such a bleak outlook. The God we serve is the "God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" (2 Cor 1:3-4). The basic idea behind the word "comfort" in the New Testament is "to be at one's side for the express purpose of providing assistance, encouragement, or consolation." Our basis of comfort comes from TRUSTING the Lord.
TRUST IN CHRIST'S PRESENCE...
Jesus told his disciples, "Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me" (John 14:1). He will never leave us or forsake us (Heb 13:5; Mt 28:20). We can deal with all of our difficulties due to our implicit trust in the presence of the God whom we cannot see. David said, "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Ps 27:13). We know God is by our side to comfort us. In the dark hours of life, how we need to cling to this precious truth! The Psalmist penned: "Mine eyes are unto thee, O God, the Lord; in thee is my trust" (Ps 141:8).
For every storm in life that rages, for every battle that is fought, and for every heart that is wounded we my be assured that Jesus, the Stiller of storms, the Captain of our salvation, and Physician for our souls will be there to help, encourage, and console us (1 Pet 5:7). Now, that is REAL comfort!
TRUST IN CHRIST'S PROMISES...
Lying and half-truths are contrary to the very nature of God (Heb 6:18-19), so when God gives us a promise, we can know that it is SURE. When we are assailed by times of trouble, it is far too easy to allow our trust in the precious promises of God to waver. We may ask, "Why is all this happening to me?" Perhaps the question we should ask is not "Why?" but rather "What?" What promises has God provided for us in his Word? How can we better lay hold on them? Notice the explanation given by Peter in 2 Peter 1:3-4. He states that Jesus our Lord...
According to his divine power hath given
unto us all things that pertain unto life
and godliness, through the knowledge of
him that hat called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding
great and precious promises; that by
these ye might be partakers of the divine
nature, having excaped the corruption
that is in the world through lust.
We should always remember, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering: for he is faithful that promised" (Heb 10:23). During times of struggle we must strive to remember the promises of God regarding comfort, help, consolation, peace, redemption, forgiveness, and heaven.
TRUST IN CHRIST'S PERSON...
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). He is the way that leads to the Father and a heavenly home. He is the embodiment of truth in a world full of cheap fiction. Jesus is the life in a world where death runs rampant.
For this corruptible must put on in-
corruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality. So when this corruptible
shall have incorruption, and this mortal
shall have put on immortality, then shall
be brought to pass the saying that is
written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave,
where is thy victory? The sting of death
is sin: and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ
(1 Cor 15:53-57).
No matter how bad our troubles and sorrows may become, we have COMFORT because we can trust in Jesus our Lord.
The sense of comfort Jesus provides goes far beyond this world. The Psalmist expressed what our attitude should be when he penned, "In the multitude of thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul" (Ps 94:19). Truly we can say, "This is my comfort in my affliction; for thy word hath quickened my soul" (Ps 119:50).
Where can we find help when we are hurting? That's the question of the ages! The Christian has the blessed assurance that God is constantly by our side to provide strength, hope, and encouragement (2 Cor 1:3-4; Rom 5:3-5). Our basis of comfort comes from trusting the Lord who not only KNOWS what is best, but who will also DO what is best!
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DRL Note: Brethren, I am sorry for the 2 month sabbatical on posting LemmonsAid. I found myself not having time to post. In addition, I was having some awful trouble with my website. I have had to move the site and it will take a great deal of time in moving everything. I think it will be much better when it all gets moved, however.
I thought the article above was excellent and thought it would be a good one to get the LemmonsAid flowing once again. My Email address has changed. You may reach me at: David@LemmonsAid.net or dlemmons@netscape.com My website now has her own domain name: you can reach it at: LemmonsAid.net or if you like, http://LemmonsAid.net
My plan is to make another trip to Indonesia in February. If you know of anyone who could help me would you please give them a copy of my fundraising letter. You can find it at:
http://LemmonsAid.net/laposts/05fr.doc We know of a fine gospel preacher who is wanting to move to another location and I would be delighted to be able to help him make that move. If sufficient funds are gathered, I shall do so.
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LEMMONS-AID is intended for members of churches of
Christ and designed to REFRESH the soul, in the spirit of
Romans 14:19; occasionally including a bit of SALT
( Jude 3) to help to preserve our PURITY (Eph 5:25-27).
The Greatest AID that David Lemmons or Anyone Else Can
Give Comes from the Bible. "Happy is he that hath the God
of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God"
(Ps 146:5)
Produced by David Lemmons < David@LemmonsAid.net >
preacher for the North Marshall church of Christ,
Calvert City, KY.
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