Seeking Comfort

Consciously or not we are very often seeking comfort, relief, satisfaction, contentment or whatever similar description best fits our own situation. We will develop certain patterns of behaviors that swing us emotionally from a state of displeasure to one of contentment. Many times these behaviors become compulsive and destructive to ourselves and tragically to those around us. These compulsive behaviors may be addictions to a certain activity, a substance or other people and thier acceptance of us. Our search for comfort is often in response to either actual painful experiences, fears of potential personal injury due to an offense or dissapointment we might receive from others, personal failure(s) or merely in response to our God given God dependency for love, acceptance and personal value.

The good news is that we can get off of the treadmill of insantity that sends us endlessly in a circle of unsuccessful repeated attempts to gain the joy that nothing nor anyone can provide other than God himself very personally.

How so? The simplicity of God's unfailing love and presence can escape us so easily. In God's presence we can experience the comfort and warmth of his intimate loving embrace, his company of companionship, his tender mercy, his acceptance and the unconditional value he places on each of us.

Paul says in Ephesians 3 "Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome."

Again in Colosians 1 Paul says "God reconciled everything to himself………This includes you who were once so far away from God……As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault."

The Lord said to Joshua "be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

And Jesus said "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor (Comforter, or Encourager, or Advocate), who will never leave you."

Psalm 16:11 "You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever."

So let us each say as the Psalmist in 118 "Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the LORD. Those gates lead to the presence of the LORD, and the godly enter there." Do not hesitate!

A few lines from the Song A Better Way by Downhere:

I'm not alone, I really believe
You never go, You never leave
Here and now, You always stay
“I love you” could not be said a better way