Welcome to HEART NOTES. I hope you are enjoying this series, and taking advantage of the lovely, FREE printable flyers I am providing each month. If you still want to get March’s flyer, please click the link below.
Got troubles?
It’s a rhetorical question, really. At one time or another, everyone has trouble and trial rain down on them. Jesus promised that because of the human condition, we would have troubles in this world (John 16:33). But, I have good news for you. Actually the Scriptures have good news for you.
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT)
For believers in Jesus Christ, there is good news. In fact, there are two bits of good news.
- God comforts us in our troubles
- Because God comforts us in our troubles, we can then comfort others going through troubles.
The best part of this is that it really does work. This is not just Sunday school theory. I’ve seen it play out time and again in my life, and in the lives of others.
- In my teens and early 20s I waged a battle with anorexia. In my early 40s I was able to minister to young women fighting the same battle.
- My Daddy battled cancer for 22 months. During that time, he brought comfort to a young woman battling breast cancer, because he understood what she was going through.
- A woman endures a painful divorce caused by spousal betrayal. Months down the road, she can walk that same road with another woman, and assure her that the difficult times do not last forever.
- A man loses his job due to company downsizing. In the years to come he can offer advice and comfort to another man experiencing the same type of loss.
It has been said that God never wastes a trial. It is true. God walks with us through our life difficulties, assuring us of His presence, and bringing peace and resolution. Then, he encourages us to offer the peace and love of God to others going through similar difficulties. We may waste a trial by allowing ourselves to ignore God’s presence in the midst of it, but God is always ready to help us turn lemons into lemonade and support others in trials.
Are you in the middle of a trial? Just coming out of a trial?
Look for God’s presence and purpose in that trial. Then, when the time is right, be ready to comfort others with the comfort you have received from God.
