“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

— 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Have you ever gone through a terrible trial, yet through it all felt completely surrounded by God’s love? God is the God of all comfort, and when we struggle, He comforts us by His presence, His power, and His Word. Here are some of God’s words that might comfort your heart in times of great difficulty:

• When people persecute you: “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:12).
• When you’re sick: “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well” (Matthew 9:22).
• When you’re weary: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
• When you’re afraid: “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (Mark 6:50).
• When you need help: “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14).
• When you’re worried: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

God’s comfort is wonderful in difficult times. But God doesn’t comfort us just for our own sakes; He comforts us so that we may comfort others. I remember when a woman in our church lost her son in a swimming pool accident. Many people tried to comfort her, and she appreciated their concern, but she didn’t experience true comfort until someone who had also lost a child came and talked to her.

When we experience tragedy, we can thank God for the comfort He gives us in our time of need. And later, we may look for opportunities to comfort others who are going through similar trials. Allow God to work through you, maybe even today, to bring His comfort to others with the comfort He has given you.

“Christianity is a religion of comfort. Our God is not only
‘the God of all grace,’ He is also ‘the God of all comfort.’”
Bill Elliot

“Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

— Psalm 119:97

What is your relationship to God’s law? Are you passing acquaintances who wave “hello” from across a great distance but never interact? Or are you in such intimate communion that you hide the Law in your heart, thinking of it constantly?

If you feel a bit distant from God’s law, perhaps understanding its origin and purpose will give you the desire to know it better. In the Old Testament, God gave humankind three types of laws: civil laws, ceremonial laws, and moral laws. The civil laws helped people interact as a country. God laid down the civil laws because He Himself was King of Israel; no one else had authority to create such laws. If someone broke a civil law, that person would receive a punishment such as bodily harm or even death. These laws disappeared in A.D. 70 when Israel was no longer a theocracy.

The ceremonial laws dictated which days to commemorate as a nation—the Passover and the Day of Atonement, for example. These laws also carefully delineated how to celebrate each holy day. The ceremonial laws foreshadowed Christ’s coming; since He has come, we no longer observe them.

The third type, moral laws, reflect the eternal, holy, and unchangeable nature of God. All the moral laws are summed up in the Ten Commandments. God’s moral laws have never passed away and will never pass away. We must obey them always. We need the moral laws because they draw people to Christ. They restrain wicked people. They smash our pride and drive us to our knees. They guide us in the way we should live.

In considering the moral laws, people make two basic errors. Some people believe they can save themselves by keeping theLaws. Others believe just the opposite—that if they are saved, they don’t have to keep the moral laws. But God wants to create a perfect kingdom of righteousness where, in joyful and willing obedience, men and women yield themselves gladly to God’s eternal law because of their love for and gratitude to their Savior and Lord.

Today ask God to show you how to delight in His law. Invite Him to make His law a constant companion for your soul.

“It is impossible for us to break the Law.
We can only break ourselves against the Law.”
Cecil B. Demille
(Director Of “The Ten Commandments” Movie)

“… when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice …”

— 2 Timothy 1:5

What influence has your mother had on your life? If someone wanted to quote you on the impact your mother has had on you, what would you say?

Many outstanding people in this world have attributed their accomplishments to their mothers. Thomas Edison, that famous inventor, wrote, “I did not have my mother long, but she cast over me an influence that has lasted all my life. The good effects of her early training I can never lose . . . My mother was the making of me.” Charles Spurgeon, perhaps the greatest preacher who ever lived, said, “I cannot tell how much I owe to the solemn words and prayers of my mother.” Dwight L. Moody, the great evangelist of a century ago, said, “All that I have ever accomplished in life, I owe to my mother.” We even have a statue to a mother in this country. We know it in another context—as the Statue of Liberty. Auguste Bartholdi, its sculptor, used his own mother as his model!

G. Campbell Morgan, one of the great preachers of this century, and his wife reared four sons, all of whom became ministers. At a family reunion, a friend asked one of the sons, “Which Morgan is the greatest preacher?” The son looked at his father for help in answering. His father replied, “Mother!” Her “preaching” had a great impact on their character!

Today, thank God for your mother and for the impact she has had on your life. Make sure to thank her, too, through a phone call, a letter, or a thoughtful gift. Let her know how much you cherish her and her influence.

“At the end of your life, you will never regret not having
passed one more test, not winning one more verdict
or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not
spent with a husband, a friend, a child or a parent.”
Barbara Bush

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.’”

— Exodus 14:15

Have you ever encountered an obstacle so huge, you just didn’t know if you could get around it? Perhaps you are facing one today …

If you need a testimony of victory against tremendous obstacles, read the book of Exodus. The tenth plague had come upon Egypt, striking the firstborn of all the houses of Egypt. Meanwhile, the Israelites sat terrified in their homes amid the shrieks, wails, moans, and cries of the mourning Egyptians around them. The angel of God had passed through the land, slaying the firstborn of every house that did not have blood upon the doorpost and lintel. The next day, Pharaoh gave the Israelites permission to leave Egypt, and so they headed out of the land. But while Moses led the Israelites to the edge of the Red Sea, Pharaoh hardened his heart and sent his men to pursue the Israelites. As the Israelites looked back from the Red Sea, hundreds of Egyptian chariots bore down on them. They had no place left to go. With the Red Sea in front of them and the Egyptians behind them, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.’” At once the Red Sea parted, and God provided them safe passage.

Forty years later, the Israelites (now under Joshua’s leadership) faced the Jordan River, and it appeared impossible to cross. But God had told them that when they stepped into the water, it would disappear. The river flowed menacingly along, but because of God’s instruction and promise, they went forward. At the moment the Israelites’ feet touched that water, it parted, and the people walked across on dry ground to the Promised Land.

When we face obstacles, God always provides a way. He has promised in His Word that He will make our paths straight. God calls us to go through our obstacles, whatever they may be, because He calls us forward to a glorious destiny, the Promised Land. So if you face a tremendous obstacle today, wait for God to provide you a way through it, and when He calls you forward, go in the faith that He will fulfill His promise to you.

“When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.”
The Sound Of Music

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom . . .”

— Proverbs 1:7

Do you face a tough decision in your life, maybe one that makes you wish for some writing across the sky to indicate which way to go? Then you could probably use a good dose of wisdom. I don’t mean knowledge per se—information for information’s sake. I mean wisdom: the ability to rightly apply knowledge to your life. There is a difference. For example, a young person might have enough knowledge to rattle off a dozen ways that smoking endangers one’s health yet lack the wisdom to “just say no” when that person’s peers want him or her to light up.

So how do we acquire the wisdom to help us make good decisions? By asking God for it. In James 1:5, God promises that if we ask in faith for wisdom, He will give it to us.

We also acquire wisdom by fearing the Lord. The books of Psalms and Proverbs talk a lot about the “fear of the Lord.” In these instances, the term “fear” does not mean a slavish dread of Him; rather, it refers to that reverential awe of God that we should all have.

Without such fear of the Lord, we cannot acquire true knowledge or wisdom. I’m sure that many would mock that statement and set forth numerous examples of supposedly wise people who demonstrate no fear of the Lord whatsoever. But we can’t make hasty judgments. We don’t know how a story ends until we read the last page of a book, and that same principle applies to life. A person may gather much of the world’s knowledge, yet that individual will eventually have to face the Lord God and give an account of his or her life. The Bible writes this epitaph of all ungodly people (however vast their knowledge of this world): “Thou fool.” It is impossible to gain wisdom until one first fears the Lord.

Do you desire wisdom? Then place the Lord in His right and proper place in your life— as your Lord, worthy of reverential awe.

“The greatest good is wisdom.”
St. Augustine