Finding Comfort

Romans 15:4

We often think of comfort as the absence of stress, pain, and anything that is troublesome of distressing. In reality, we need discomfort to appreciate comfort. I love going to the chiropractor. I do not love it because everything in my neck and spine is perfect, but rather because they are far from perfect. While there, I experience discomfort, but through that discomfort I find relief and comfort from my pain. The word of God is a lot like that. So, do you find comfort in God's Word?

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For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Romans 15:4

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Paul says that all things were written for our learning. "Were written" indicates the past. Paul is telling us that the Old Testament was written for our learning. Over and over again Paul quoted from the Old Testament. This was the scripture that he studied when he wanted to learn more about who God is. This is the scripture he studied when he needed comfort. This is the scripture he studied to build his hope. Today, we have both the Old Testament and the New Testament for these purposes.

Paul also says "that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures". The scriptures are to bring us patience and comfort. We learn patience because the scriptures give both the expectation of patience and wisdom for developing patience. Then there is comfort. Comfort comes through God's promises. He promises that he was with us in the past, is with us in the present, and will continue to be with us in the future. Ultimately, he promises that we will be with Him in Heaven. No matter what we face, God is with us. That should be comforting.

Finally, he speaks of this "hope" again. As I have said in previous devotions, hope means "expectation". We expect God to do what He has said He would do. This is not the expectation of a spoiled brat who feels entitled to something not promised. It is the expectation that God will be who He is. Growing up, I expected to be able to go to my parents room in the middle of the night if I needed them and that they would be there. This was not a ridiculous expectation. It was not an expectation of entitlement. It was an expectation based in a spoken promise and consistent demonstration. Such is the case for God. He speaks His promises to us through His word and He demonstrates His faithfulness continuously in our lives.

Back to our question, do you find comfort in God's Word? I hear so many people say that God's Word scares them. They also say that it is boring. There are a couple of possibilities here. If God's Word scares us, it could be because we are not saved. In that case, the promise of judgment and Hell is absolutely not comforting. However, there is comfort in the promise of salvation to whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord. If a saved person is scared of God's Word then they do not understand what they are reading. A saved person has nothing to fear from God. Even God's chastisement is an indication of His love for us. God's approval and disapproval of His children reveal that he loves them, cares for them, and has not abandoned them.

Father, I pray that you would comfort me through your word. Even when what I read is not comfortable, I pray that you use it comfort me through your presence and your promises. I pray that you use me to share this comfort with others as well.