The God of All Comfort

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice (John 10:3).” If we believe in Jesus we are his sheep. This means we can hear his voice. 

We all heard the voice of Jesus at least once in our lives. We heard Jesus when we were born again. At that time we heard from God, believed his word, and were born again. 

Hearing God’s voice is not just a one-time experience when we are born again. We are to hear God’s voice throughout our Christian lives.

When we hear Jesus’ voice we can follow him. The word “follow” means in Greek to go along the road with. When we hear the voice of Jesus, we can walk with him in our lives. We can accompany him. If we follow Jesus, we will be where he is.

Jesus is the good shepherd. He will lead us to green pastures and still waters (Psalm 23). Rest and blessing will come into our lives as we follow Jesus. He will restore our souls. He will cause our cup to run over with abundance.

The word of God will bring peace to our lives. “I will hear what God will say, he will speak peace to his people” (Psalm 85:8). God will give us peace through his word, and this peace cannot be taken away from us by this crazy world.

The word of God brings comfort (Isaiah 40:1-2). God comforts us as a mother comforts her children (Isa. 66:13). All of God’s children need comfort now and then. Praise God that Jesus came to comfort all who mourn (Matthew 5:4).

When we were babies we needed comfort. We might have had a toy or blanket that comforted us when we were young. Our mother also comforted us in those days.

As we became older, maybe we felt that we outgrew that need for comfort. We threw away our comfort toys and stopped running to mommy when we skinned our knee. We took this as a sign of maturity.

But we will never become so mature in our Christian life that we do not need God’s comfort. This world is full of pain and hardship, especially for God’s people, because it is dominated by Satan. All of God’s people need God’s comfort in order to get through this world successfully.

Sometimes the pain of this world drives us to find comfort in other places. Some turn to alcohol, drugs, binge-watching TV, or junk food. There are many ways the world has devised to bring us comfort. But all of this will fail. This comfort is not enduring. We need the comfort that comes from God alone.

When we turn to other places for comfort, it can dull our need for God. When we crave comfort, our souls are really hungry for God. If we allow our souls to be filled with God at those times, our relationship with him will be strengthened. But if we fill our souls with other things during those painful moments, then our relationship with God can be damaged, for we are potentially turning to idols.

Our souls are made to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter (John 14:16). One of the main things the Holy Spirit does is comfort us. Our souls can find true satisfaction in God alone.

Our God is the God of ALL comfort (2 Cor. 1:3-7). There is no sorrow or trouble that is greater than God. God is infinitely greater than we are. He is far stronger than all our problems. This is why he is able to give us ALL comfort.

When we are comforted by God, we are supernaturally empowered to comfort others. The supernatural comfort we receive from God can be then given to our brothers and sisters in the church. The body of Christ is a source of comfort from God, because God is flowing among his people, and they are releasing the Holy Spirit to each other. 

The gospel is “strong comfort” (Hebrews 6:18). The gospel is eternal comfort, because when we die we will go be with Jesus. The gospel is also present comfort, because it is the way we access God and the infinite spiritual resources that he has for us.

If we need comfort, we need to go to God. We are his sheep, so we can hear his voice. When we hear his voice we can follow him. And when we follow him, he will lead us to green pastures, still waters, and he will restore our souls. 

Turn to the Bible. Read it. As you do, your ears will be opened to hear from Jesus (Romans 10:17). As he speaks to you through his word, he will comfort you. The Holy Spirit is your helper. He will never leave you nor forsake you. No matter what you are going through, God understands, and he is your refuge and strength.