Have you looked into the face of an unseen enemy who was trying to maim and possibly kill you?
Do you daily face an adversary that smiles while plotting your demise?
Have you been gripped by the fear that your situation may be impossible no matter what you do?
Have you found yourself so overcome by a situation that you wanted to run away, change your name, leave your current life or cease to exist?
Have you been tempted to quit because the fight (you've been told) may just be a futile expenditure of time?
AND THE WORSE THING ... nobody seems to understand...or wants to.
Years ago, as I was recovering after colon cancer surgery, (still feeling the pain and wondering how the future would pan out) ...encouragement wandered into my hospital room in the strangest way. A young man who I had been introduced to months earlier, came into my room to pray for me. He was dying from Leukemia, he had no reason to care apart from his love for Jesus and his love for those whom Jesus died for.
His presence was momentarily overwhelming:
1. His upper body was so swollen that his head and neck were almost the same dimensions as his shoulders.
2. He wheeled in an oxygen tank and an IV stroller.
3. His focus was me not his pain.
4. His prayer was so tender it probably had Angels anxious to attend.
When he left, I knew that everything would be all right. BECAUSE MY SUFFERING BROTHER CARRIED COMFORT for me. My suffering brother decided not to be overcome by his pain, but would rise above it, use it as a powerful tool to love in spite of his condition. I learned a great truth that day about God's strangest, most risky plan to comfort His own.
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. FOR THEM.
God's comfort to us is in us, waiting and effective. Like a pressure valve unopened, until it is tapped the valve doesn't experience the flow of released pressure. Until the valve is opened the pressure has no effect outside the valve ... no positive or negative affect. The blessing in this life truly comes when we open our hearts to comfort others. God has placed special emphasis on this powerful ministry through His suffering kids.
He will comfort you as you comfort others. Suffering now?... go for hope and healing, but be ready to share ...so healing will continue to flow through you.
THIS IS HIS WILL ... do not quit. Quitting is not His will.
HLFA,
Jeff
