The Comforter Has Come

I love that picture…

Every time I look at that boy’s face, it touches my heart—there’s no nightmare, no upset, no sadness that can compete with being held by his father.

Just for fun, I looked up the definition of the word comfort.

Here’s what it said: “the easing or alleviation of a person’s feelings of grief or distress.”

I thought, What a boring way to describe one of the most beautiful words in the English language!

Comfort is probably more easily experienced than it is defined;  words often fail in the presence of the profound.

How do you describe in words the love of God that heals a wound in the soul, or chases away a menacing fear, or eases the pain of a broken heart?

Comfort may be difficult to put into words, but we certainly know when have some.

I remember a cold December day when I was very young—first or second grade.

My siblings and I were slipping and sliding around on a pond near our home that had frozen over.

Just a few feet from shore, the thinner ice gave way, and I plunged waste-high into the frigid water.

I can’t recall ever feeling more panicked or more cold in my entire life than what I felt that day.

Later that evening, I was still a bit freaked out and chilled to the bone—I couldn’t stop shivering and still very much upset.

My mom was making for me my favorite meal (fried chicken) and got a basin of warm water for my feet and wrapped a comforter around me.

I was sitting in an overstuffed chair by the fire staring at the Christmas tree and listening to Bing Crosby sing I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.

To this day I can remember being so overwhelmed with peace that I had the silly thought,

I should fall through the ice more often. 

God loves to comfort us in our troubles; and the comfort that He gives, always exceeds the grief that we bear.

On the night Jesus was betrayed, the disciples were filled with fear as Jesus spoke about leaving them.

But He encouraged them with these words:

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever” (John 14:16).

Jesus gives the Holy Spirit the title: The Comforter!

It’s what He does best.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).

And that’s the work of the Comforter.

And notice it’s not merely a promise that brings the peace (as wonderful as promises are)—it’s His actual presence.

He is by definition, comfort itself.

From the Greek lexicon:

“Parakletos: summoned, called to one’s side, especially called to one’s aid.”

By definition, when we are in distress, the Comforter kicks into action—God wraps Himself around the human heart that’s hurting.

Sudden losses.
Cruel betrayals.
Devastating disappointments.

When this kind of grief comes into our lives, the Comforter is summoned.

He presses into our souls and displaces our grief by His paternal presence and with His all-consuming love.

Let me assure you, friends, whatever it is that has caused you some grief…

However big.
However nasty.
However grievous.

The comfort of God is bigger, greater, brighter and stronger.

It’s going to be okay.

The Comforter has come.

Let Him comfort you.