The God Who Comforts His People
Isaiah 49:13 tells us, “Shout for joy, you heavens! And rejoice, you earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted.”
So often we read Scripture, but we just don’t feel it. In our minds we say that God’s Word is truth, but in our hearts we tend to think differently. That is where we have to deal with reality. And reality may be just the opposite, especially when it comes to comfort or compassion and even our needs. We think that God really doesn’t see or hear or even care about what is going on in our lives.
Isaiah 49: 14-16 continues to say, “But Zion said, “The Lord has abandoned me,
and the Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.”
You may be that one who may think that God has abandoned you, that He has forgotten you, but God says differently. He can not forget His own. God has inscribed you on the palms of His hands. You are special to Him, so special that He sent His only begotten Son to die for you, so that you may have life eternal.
But life can be hard and it can be cruel, but there are many reasons for that. One, we can bring about our own difficulties by the choices that we make, and two well, 1 Peter 1:6-9 tells us this, “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Messiah Yeshua; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”
Yes, God tests our faith, and this can be a difficult time, but God is still our answer. We must grow in life. We can not stay in the same place forever. 1Corinthians 13:11 says this, “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.”
This is the same with God, we must mature in Him and if we do not go through those times of testings and trials, well we just don’t grow. We must stretch our faith, we must pray with faith
Hebrews 11:1-2,6, tells us, “Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. For by it the people of old gained approval.”
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.”
But God will have compassion on His people. He will not allow you to be tested beyond what you can handle. We must find comfort in God and this is only done when we walk with God. Psalm 23 says it best, “The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
The Lord’s rod and staff brings us comfort. God will lead us if we want to be led. God corrects us when we wander off the path. This should be a great comfort to know that God watches over us, but we need to walk with God in His ways. When we do, He will lead us to green pastures. He will take us to quiet waters. We must learn to walk with God, and do learn, we must go through those trials. How else do you learn to trust anyone, unless you have reason to, those reasons come with walking with a person, and knowing a person, and it is the same with God.
Today you may be having a hard time, but Psalm 93:3-5 tells us, “The floods have lifted up, Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice, the floods lift up their pounding waves. More than the sounds of many waters, than the mighty breakers of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty. Your testimonies are fully confirmed; Holiness is pleasing to Your house, Lord, forevermore.”
When you see the floods have lifted up and your neighbor is in need or your co-worker, or your family members, or church members or even the one one the street, then reach out, and be the hand of God who comforts His people.
Be that one who relieves the sorrow, the hurt, the conflict, the situation that is at hand, and brings comfort and show compassion.
God also brings trials in people’s lives, so that we too, can be the hand of God showing mercy and love and compassion, so that on the day of our need, people will help us. Today, do not give up hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God is in control. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Romans 5:5, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit [which] was given to us.”
This is a good recipe for us to remember, Romans 12:12, “Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.”
Never forget that God loves you. Yeshua came just for you, and He will see you through your storm, and bring peace to your heart, because He does not want you to perish.
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