The NIV 365-Day Devotional Reading PlanSample

Comfort Ability

*What kind of comfort do you want when you’re hurting?

*What kind of comfort do you not want? Why?

The Lord isn’t a stranger to grief. He understands it because he experienced it. The apostle John tells the story of Jesus’ encounter with his friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. The three of them were siblings. One day Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was very ill. By the time Jesus reached them, Lazarus was dead.

Jesus knew he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. He knew that in a matter of minutes Mary and Martha and all their friends and family would be rejoicing. But in that moment, he looked around and saw people he loved weeping and mourning. And do you know what Jesus did? He wept. He allowed himself to feel — and show — deep, deep sorrow. Other people’s sadness touched his heart, and he shed tears. (For the complete story, see John 11:1 – 45).

The Lord knows the kind of comfort we need when we’re grieving. He knows even better than we do. All we have to do is call on him. We don’t need to give him instructions. We don’t even have to tell him what’s wrong. All we have to do is say, “Lord, I need you,” and he will be right by our side.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for sending your Son, who experienced pain and suffering and knows how to comfort us when we are hurting. Let us always remember to turn to you in times of grief. Amen.

Taken from Once a Day At the Table