The Practice of the Presence of JesusSample

Living with Hope

“Comfort yourself with Him,” Brother Lawrence urges us.

The Lord is delighted to call himself “the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). He does not supply merely a little comfort, or some comfort, but all that heaven can muster for your need. He offers you innumerable consolations through countless channels. One way is never good enough for God—he floods his comfort toward you through a thousand tributaries, seeking to support you where it hurts the most. I know this because I have experi­enced it.

There was once a season when I was so overwhelmed by chronic pain that I almost became blind to God’s offer of enabling grace. Pain has a way of heightening our natural inclinations to doubt God. But in Christ we have transcendent inclinations, for we are called to live supernat­urally. We can live hopefully. Miraculously. Powerfully.

When you are wounded, it’s hard to find more personal words than Isaiah 46:4. God speaks here not through a prophet or some other messenger, but one-on-one with you, saying tenderly, “I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” It’s a promise; he will sustain you. God stakes his character on it.

Perhaps the most heartwarming expression of God’s com­fort is in Isaiah 49:16. Look at your Savior’s hands and hear him say, “See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.” When the Son of God engraves our names in his “flesh,” it is much more than Joni, Ken, Bobby, or Jes­sica. It’s everything your name represents. If he has carved your many pains and concerns into his palm, will he not care for your tiniest problems? He has etched each one into him­self! He has more compassion for your frailties than you could ever imagine.

Today, live hopefully, miracu­lously, and powerfully, for Christ has the final word when it comes to your suffering. Jesus is your Answer, so practice his presence in your suffering.

Meditate: What does it look like to practice Jesus’s presence in suffering?

We hope this plan encouraged you. Learn more about The Practice of the Presence of Jesus by Joni Eareckson Tada here .