Forever Faithful 10-Day DevotionalUddrag

Ever-Present Comfort

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion. -2 Corinthians 1:3

When the HIV/AIDS crisis emerged in the 1980s, there was speculation and fear.

Dr. Michelle Rojas was on the front lines of the epidemic in South Carolina. As cases increased, Black patients were slow to speak out and seek care; they faced stigmas on many fronts and often were only referred to specialists.

One of only a handful of Black women MDs in the area, Dr. Rojas was sought out by patients. She followed God’s calling to establish a first-of-its-kind community care program for HIV/AIDS patients in South Carolina. Through decades of service in various programs and clinics in the state, she has made a historic impact.

Her model reflects God’s heart and encourages us to share His gifts of compassionate comfort with others. Our loving Father cares for us, not just so we can be comfortable, but so we can “comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Rojas serves with an open door to those in need of care in challenging times with love, grace, and the gospel.

Throughout history, God has been faithful and generous in providing comfort through His people so that we can share His hope and compassion with others. In our Christian walk, we “share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,” and we can be assured that “so also our comfort abounds through Christ” (v. 5).

Monika R. A. Miller

What challenging spaces has God called you into? How can you be a vehicle of His compassion and comfort in those spaces today?

Father of compassion, God of all comfort, I am so grateful You’re with me in troubling times. Help me abound in comfort for others through Christ today.