COMFORT AND PEACE IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING

God knows that there are things in life that it is too difficult for us to handle. He understands suffering, for He experienced it Himself. Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "This High Priest (Jesus Christ) of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." When we are in a situation that is too difficult for us to handle, God is always near to us, even when we feel that He has abandoned us. God never abandons us, especially when we are in deep sorrow, and this is the reason we can run to Him and find peace and comfort. 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you." The more we trust God's sovereign plan in the midst of our suffering, the more we will have comfort and peace in our hearts. There are many things that we cannot understand, but God understands everything. 

Linda's mother is about to go through radiation for her brain cancer, and there are a lot of unknowns. The doctors are trying their best to help Linda's mother, but we, as humans, can only do so much. We ultimately trust in God for her health. The good thing about this situation is that Linda's mother is a believer, so God is with her every step of the way. Our faith in God comforts and gives us peace in the midst of our sorrow. God never promised us that we would not suffer in this world, but He promised us that He would be with us and would take care of us in our sufferings. Although suffering is very uncomfortable and painful, it gives us the opportunity to experience God's presence, power, and faithfulness. It is in our suffering that our faith in God is tested. Sufferings show how much we believe in what we know about God. The more we trust God in our sufferings, the more we will have comfort and peace.

It is difficult for us to see Linda's mom go through cancer treatments, but we have peace and comfort that God is going to help us all the way. It doesn't take away the sorrow and pain, but we find assurances in God that He has this situation in control and that He is with us no matter what happens.

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Do I trust God in my suffering? How can I have comfort and peace in the midst of my suffering? Why is it important to put my confidence in God?

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, I humbly come before you, acknowledging that you are my God and Savior who loves and cares about me. I pray for Linda's mother's miraculous healing and your comfort and peace for us all. I thank you for understanding our conditions and for always being with us. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.