COMFORT - 19Sample

Day Seven

Why do bad things happen?

We live in such a broken world. Things and people of this life can be unfair and damaging. From a pandemic of illness, to hate, abuse, and poverty, we see the hurt and its effect on people. It is not beyond us to ask God why. It is a natural response when we see grief or experience torment. The mind, body, and soul have to release the pain in order to heal. 

In fact, voicing our despair is one of the healthiest things we can do. As said earlier in this devotional, the difference is what we do with our grief, anger, and sadness. Make no mistake, God is a God of Justice as much as He is of Comfort! 

We must, however, seek God’s help to place our emotions under His control, so we can better manage our behaviors. But what do we do about the ongoing emotions that simply will not shut off?

I have never seen anyone on this earth, nor in the Bible, who had the superior ability to shut-off everything. People may deny or bury their pain; however suppressed grief may resurface later in a negative way.

God designed us with a certain amount of capacity and only so much void. No one can withhold all his emotions from bad things, only to try to find peace and healing for himself. If this were true, neither you nor I, much less the world, would need Jesus. Locking down one’s own responses will only make life worse:  this is no way to live.

I have lived a life of turmoil and abuse as a child. There were things done to me that I wish had never happened. They were beyond my control. What was one thing that I learned? It was not my fault.

When we go through pain, we often blame ourselves. This self-medicating reaction obscures the real problem. It displaces our hurt as a means to justify or bear the burden of responsibility on ourselves. 

What complicates life even further is when negative behaviors become our “new response” to any pain or problem. Without proper intervention or resolution, this new response becomes subconsciously automatic. This way of coping or surviving we learned during childhood, can carry over into adulthood: unless you become keenly aware of your need to deal with the problems openly and professionally.

On a lighter note, the way we are as humans has everything to do with our spirituality. God designed us with the ability to learn from our pain and failures. We take the hurts and pragmatic things of life and ask God for wisdom, understanding, and healing. In essence, we bring to God our brokenness, and He transforms us into a new way of thinking, believing, and living, all through the interweaving love and grace of Christ. 

Why do I include this in a devotional? Because sometimes our human emotions keep us from our devotion to God. Our emotions can preclude us from conversing with God:  we may then wander through life wondering if God even hears us or why we cannot hear from Him. 

The truth is God has always heard you and He hears you now. Jesus said in John 8:47, “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.” It is said in Psalm 65:2 says: “You  who answer prayer, to you all people will come.” Here it is, in black and white- God’s proof that He hears us and knows our every thought, even before it is on our tongue ( see 1 Chronicles 28:9, and Psalm 139:4).

The Holy Spirit takes our physical and mental needs to the Father. In return, He restores our soul and renews our emotional health- which benefits our spiritual health. As a result, the health of our fellowship and our sense of devotion is more attuned to God. All of these things work together. Through asking and experiencing God’s help, we develop a better understanding of what Paul writes to the Philippians: “And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7

David’s comfort is fixed on the Lord to the point that his dependency is found nowhere else. David brings his human emotion to the Spiritual God of all comfort:

“Please let Your lovingkindness be for my comfort, according to Your word to Your servant.” – Psalm 119.76

Notice how his plea in this verse is not: “O God, fix such and such and then I will do this for You." David is not seeking temporary earthly repair. He is not even bargaining with God. David humbly approaches the One who cares with great compassion and gives liberally from His unconditional love and divine kindness to the human heart.

With this kind of care from our Father, what other sources of comfort could eternally fill every human void?

David knows there is no other source of comfort. He joyously responds to God saying: “If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction.” – Psalm 119:92

We would have died in our own pain had it not been for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Praise be to God for His indescribable gift to all mankind. May we live our lives humbly and worthily to our Father, who holds all things together for the sake of His glory.

We can thank God for providing prayer as a way of direct communication. When your heart is filled with anxiety, He restores the mind and soul. His peace is unavoidable. In response to His generous invitation, take your thoughts captive, and bring them to Jesus. Cast all your cares upon Him and lay all your burdens at His feet. He is able. Even when your strength fails, He is your help. God will lift you up.

Prayer:

O, my Father, only You can do any and all things; You hold my life in Your hands. Thank You for Your tenderness and abiding love. You are here in every moment. I never have to worry if You are near. Although at times I may feel isolated, I am never alone. Your Holy Spirit is within me. You made a promise to be my help and my guide; You have fulfilled your promises with more to come. May I rest unafraid like a trusting child in your arms. Soothe every fear and wipe away every stain. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.