Week Eight - Where is Comfort?

Probably the most heart-wrenching scene in the Bible is Job, with all his livestock and children dead, a non-supportive wife, and judgmental friends, he finds himself sitting in ashes and dust, while his body is covered with running sores.

Three friends gathered to mourn with him and be a comfort (Job 2:11). For the first several days, as they all sat in grief, not a word was spoken.

Sometimes, life brings trials that require silence. They take us by surprise, stopping us dead in our tracks, pausing to take it all in. Grief is not a lack of faith. It is a process of coming to terms with what has happened so we can find a measured and healthy response. Sometimes, we need to sit silently in the dust of our trial and wait to hear from God.

Is comfort found in silence? Yes, briefly. But we cannot remain there.

Words begin to flow as Job's human response pours out. He wishes to die, to run away from the trial, to find the answer to "why." He is face-to-face with his worst fear, and where is comfort?

Is comfort found in questioning? No.

Is comfort found in the counsel or words of others? No.

As his first friend, Eliaphaz begins to speak, and the conversation's downward spiral begins. Job says his grief is as heavy as sand, but the words of Eliaphaz are like water that runs away or snow that melts. They hold no comfort, only condemnation.

As I read Job's story, I am challenged to think about how I respond to friends in grief. Are my words so thin they melt away? Am I forceful, argumentative, or judgmental when I try to encourage? Words often fail as we try to comfort others. Why? Because we are not the comforter - He is.

In John 14:16-17, Jesus says, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

In Him, we have an ever-abiding comfort; a Comforter with a purpose. 

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Our Comforter teaches us truth and helps us remember God's promises. He is the Spirit of truth (John 16:13). His comfort isn't based on man's words. It is founded in His Spirit speaking peace and hope through God's Word to our souls; His Spirit who calms our fears.

In John 16:33, Jesus speaks these words of comfort. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Rarely will we find genuine comfort in this world. Oh, a good cup of tea, a gentle breeze, some beautiful music, warm sunshine, and even the beauty of the snow may temporarily speak peace to our hearts. But abiding comfort only comes by abiding in Christ. The settling of our tumultuous hearts is found in His truth. He has overcome the world, and by faith, we are overcomers with Him. This is genuine comfort.