WHERE CAN YOU FIND COMFORT? -JESUS' ROLE IN COMFORTING ALL WHO MOURN

God intended that Jesus have a key role in providing comfort.  Among other tasks that God assigned him, Jesus was "to bind up the brokenhearted" and "comfort all who mourn." (Isaiah 61:1, 2) As foretold, Jesus took a special interest in people who were "toiling and loaded down." - MATTHEW 11:28-30.

Jesus comforted people by giving them wise advice, by treating them kindly, and even, in some cases, by curing their sicknesses. One day a leper pleaded with Jesus: "If you just want to, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, Jesus replied: "I want to! Be made clean." (Mark 1:40. 41) And the leper was healed. 

Today, the Son of God is  not present on earth to comfort us personally.But his Father, Jehovah, "the God of all comfort," continues to help those in need. (2 Corinthians 1:3) Consider four principal means that God uses to comfort people. 

* The Bible. "All things that were written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope." - ROMANS 15:4.

* God's Holy Spirit. Not long after Jesus' death, the whole Christian congregation entered into a period of peace.  Why? "It walked in the fear of Jehovah and in the comfort of the holy spirit." (Acts 9:31)  The holy spirit, God's active force, is very powerful.  God can use it to comfort anyone in any circumstance. 

* Prayer. "Do not be anxious over anything," the Bible advises us. Rather, it says, "let your petitions be made know to God' and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your mental powers."  - PHILIPPIANS 4:6, 7.

* Fellow Christians. Can provide a comforting "safety net" of true friends.  The apostle Paul described his companions as "a source of great comfort" in times of "distress and tribulation." - COLOSSIANS 4:11; 1 THESSALONIANS 3:7.

But you may be wondering how all this works in practice. Let us take a closer look at the experiences   of people who have faced the problems mentioned at the outset. Like them, you can discover that God still fulfills this heartwarming promise:  "As a mother  comforts her son, so I will keep comforting you." -ISAIAH 66:14.

HOW WE KNOW THAT GOD WANTS TO COMFORT US

* "You, O Jehovah, are my helper and comforter." - PSALM 86:17.

* "Comfort, comfort my people,' says your God." - ISAIAH 40:1*

* "This is what Jehovah says: . . . "As a mother comforts her son, so I will keep comforting you." - ISAIAH 66:12, 13. 

* "Happy are those who mourn, since they will be comforted." - MATTHEW 5:4.

* "Throw all your anxiety on [God], because he cares for you." - 1 PETER 5:7. 

Next time: WHERE CAN YOU FIND COMFORT? - Comfort in Times of Trouble

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