Where can we turn to find comfort in these crazy, scary times? This devotion looks at how and under what condition God will use the Holy Spirit to comfort us.
Nuggets
- God knows we need comforting.
- God uses His Word, the impulses of the Holy Spirit, and other people to comfort us.
- We have to ABCD first before the Holy Spirit comforts us.
- God is not going to give us a pass and comfort us when we are still separated from Him.
In Who Is the Holy Spirit?, we discussed the attributes of the Holy Spirit. We didn’t address His role as Comforter. We left that for this devotion.
This is a relevant devotion in today’s scary world. We can turn to God for comfort, but He does have a requirement on who He will comfort. Let’s find out what it is.
Let's Put It into Context
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (Jn. 14: 16 KJV)
Maclaren detailed what being the Comforter meant. It isn’t just whispering in our ears. It is a Presence that is always with us — as long as we are faithful, loving, and obedient. This constant Presence gives us strength.
The Holy Spirit is labeled as “… another Comforter …” (Jn. 14: 16 KJV). In the last devotion, we discussed that the Holy Spirit replaces Jesus — meaning Jesus was a Comforter, also.
But when we think about it, God is a Comforter, too. “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort” (II Cor. 1: 3 NLT).
Wow! All three want to us be at ease. They want to console us.
When the world is going crazy, the Trinity is there to give us peace. When we worry if we are going to get sick or have the money to pay our bills, the Trinity is there to console us.
We Need Comforting
“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me” (Ps. 23: 4 NLT)
Because, face it. We need comforting. Life had been getting harder and harder — even before 2020 hit.
God knows we need comforting. It is said that “do not fear” or “fear not” is said 365 times in the Bible. No, I don’t think that is coincidental.
God knew that Satan was going to tempt us. He knew those temptations were going to be hard to withstand.
Also, God knew that the punishment for sins would be hard to take. Sin is when we disobey God and break one of His laws and commandments.
No, God should not eliminate the punishment for breaking His laws and commandments. If we say God should change His mind and not have lying, homosexuality, and adultery [substitute the sin on your wish list], why are we stopping there? Why don’t we say He should make stealing and murder not a sin?
My point is, we can’t pick and choose what is a sin and what isn’t. Nobody died and made us god. We can’t say one sin isn’t “bad” enough to be a sin.
God is the Creator of the universe — including us. He is all-powerful and all-knowing. He gets to choose right from wrong.
It isn’t about what the act of what we do or don’t do, anyway. It is about submitting to God so that He can change us from being spiritually dead to spiritually alive.
Because He is love (I Jn. 4: 8), God does correct us (Heb. 12: 6). He stands with us when we go through the trials and punishment — in fact, He surrounds us with His comfort. He sent the Spirit to live within us so that we would always have access to His comforting love.
How Does the Spirit Comfort Us?
“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Ps. 119: 11 NLT)
So, if the Holy Spirit is ready and willing to comfort us, how does He do it? There are several avenues that He uses.
Through God’s Word
We have God’s Word — that is a comfort to us. When we read through the passages, the love, provision, and peace just floods us. When we truly seek Him, God is going to unleash all we need to sustain and support us.
We can take comfort from His Word. This comfort is available to all who genuinely search for and seek Him.
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17).
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3).
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16).
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11).
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2).
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11).
God’s love and comfort — as well as His corrections — will be applied equitably. “For God does not show favoritism” (Rom. 2: 11 NLT).
Through the Spirit
We said, in How Do We Let the Spirit Lead?, that the guidance of the Spirit has been described as impulses. These impulses conveys the comfort the Spirit is giving us.
The Spirit puts these impulses in our hearts and on our minds. I know, we talk about our hearts a lot.
But look at it this way. Where God uses His Word to talk with everyone, the Spirit talks with our hearts and minds individually.
There is no way we can say, “Oh, He’s not talking to me about that” when He talks to us individually. His comfort is specifically for us and the situations in which we find ourselves when the Spirit talks to us.
Clark made an excellent point. The Holy Spirit tells it to us like it is. He doesn’t whitewash things to give us a false sense of comfort. He tells us the truth — in fact, He tells us Truth.
What is the Spirit’s constant communication with us?
- Jesus is enough.
- God’s grace and strength will sustain us.
- In the big and the small, God is there.
It Was Enough
Vocalist: Elaine Guthals
Keyboard: Chris Vieth
Vaughn also made an interesting point. There are times we don’t need — or even can’t process — words.
I remember when Mom and Dad died six weeks apart. I was really having trouble communicating.
It was so comforting just to feel that the Holy Spirit was there. I didn’t need the words. I needed the Presence.
Through His People
I know, but sometimes, it would be nice if there were words we could hear, arms we could feel holding us. That is when other people cross our paths.
I don’t know how many times when I’ve been at a really low point, I’d get a call from my BFF. She invariably says to me, “ Now, Elaine, how are you really doing?”
God will come Himself, send His Spirit, or send others to comfort us. He probably does a combination of the three.
The Divine Spirit
Go back to the beginning of the devotion. We said that the Holy Spirit was a comforting Presence that is always with us — as long as we are faithful, loving, and obedient.
Yes, we have to ABCD first before the Holy Spirit comforts us. God will only comfort His children.
To read a related devotion, click the appropriate button below.
Glossary
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
God is in the business of saving us. Salvation is the deliverance from the consequences of sin. He wants us to submit to Him.
What His Comfort Is Not About
“But there is no peace for the wicked,” says the LORD” (Is. 48: 22 NLT).
Don’t think for one minute that God is going to give us a pass and comfort us when we are still separated from Him. True, some of His blessings fall on non-believers (Mt. 5: 45).
But God is going to stand firm on this. Blessed, ABCDed people will be sheep on the right. Cursed, non-ABCDed people will be goats on the left.
We are only His children once we have ABCDed (Jn. 1: 12). We’re not going to get the inheritance if we are not His children.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
Let’s go at this another way. Comfort gives peace. God only gives peace to His children.
Let’s take that a step further. God is not going to condone sin. He is not going to comfort us when the situation is a result of our sins.
We need to repent of that sin. Repentance is expressing sorrow for breaking God’s laws and commandments.
The other thing that we need to think God’s comfort is not is that it is just straight comfort. God has a one-track mind on this — He is sanctifying us.
Making the Connections
Vaughan made a really neat statement. He wrote, “The Comforter never forgets that He is the Sanctifier, and the Sanctifier never forgets that He is the Comforter.”
We forget that, though, don’t we? We want all of the sorrow-causing junk to just get out and leave us alone.
We forget that it is through the trials that we grow and are sanctified. We don’t usually grow — or as much — when it is smooth sailing.
That is what it is about with God. Number 1 priority is our sanctification. He wants us to submit ourselves to Him and be changed to be like Him.
Making the Connections to Self-Discipline
We are also considering what we would say if a non-believer asked us. Here is the worksheet again. What would you tell someone about God forgiving and forgetting sins?
- What does the Scriptures say?
- What do I believe?
- Why do I believe the same/differently than the Scriptures?
- What are the talking points when witnessing to a non-believer?
Related Links
I have created a worksheet of the questions above. Click on the button below to access it.
How Do We Apply This?
Do you think, at times, we miss the Spirit’s comforting? I mean, we get so focused on ourselves and this world that we drown out His promptings.
We need to shut ourselves away with God so that we can hear Him speak. That way we can feel the comfort He is giving us.
Lord, I Have Shut the Door
Vocalist: Elaine Guthals
Keyboard: Chris Vieth
I like what Hall had to say. We need to figure out the mode the Holy Spirit is using to comfort us.
It isn’t always going to be the hug, come-cry-on-my-shoulder variety. Sometimes, the comfort comes through what He is trying to teach us. Maybe He is trying to get us to be more diligent.
Maybe the Holy Spirit is trying to get us to make connections with past experiences. I know. There are some things we would much rather forget!
We’ve talked a lot about how God wants us to remember. He uses that to show us how He provides for us. Knowing He held me through my spiritual tornado will help the next time the wind will start whipping.
God wants to comfort us. We should want the all-knowing, all-powerful God in control of our lives. That in and of itself would be a great comfort.
Search for and seek God today so that you can receive comfort from Him.
Father God. We are in awe that the Creator of the universe is interested in having a relationship with us. Help us to give you control of every area of our lives. Lord, comfort us in these troubling times. Amen.
What do you think?
Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
If you don’t understand something and would like further clarification, please contact me.
If you have not signed up for the email daily or weekly providing the link to the devotions and the newsletter, do so below.
If God has used this devotion to speak with you, consider sharing it on social media.
Pingback: The Witness of the Spirits – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: The Holy Spirit within Us – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: The Gift of the Holy Spirit – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: Who Is the Holy Spirit? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: The Spirit of Truth – Seeking God with Elaine