Trouble

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

There are times in life when words fail. This can be particularly difficult for those who use their words as a river to travel through life unencumbered. You know the type. They always have something to say, or maybe even too much to say. They might even say things that just don’t match with the rest of the conversation, as though they had just switched channel in the middle of a movie.

But one of the moments when words almost always fail is when there is tragic loss. When death has become the unwelcome visitor at the party words just won’t do as our hearts intend. Words are not big enough to carry the comfort that is needed in those moments.

What I find interesting is that unless there is this chasm of distance between the loss felt and the words that are used to express solidarity with the one suffering the loss, comfort in other forms seems to be out of place. But when the loss is so great that words can’t fill the gap, that is when God’s comfort steps us and fills the gap.

But in order for there to be this kind of comfort, there has to have been this kind of loss. Comfort seems meaningless unless there is trouble. Let me give an example.

Our life at the present moment is filled with losses. COVID 19 has sucked the life out of life itself. Many of the things that we used to do are now restricted. We can’t sit around the table with the whole family in some places because of the restrictions place on the size of gatherings. Even churches have had their numbers restricted.

This loss of felt connection, the sense that the restrictions will never end, but instead only chock us to death. This is trouble. And only the LORD’s work in our hearts, lives, communities, and nations can change that.

Now I am not saying that we won’t try and fill the void with other things. Netflix streaming certainly helps! But the hole is still there. I want to gather with the body of believers, shake hands and give hugs. I want laughter and tears. I want to sit around a table with all those who are important to me and eat a Thanksgiving meal. I want to collapse in the chair after eating too much.

But we won’t know the sweetness of comfort without recognizing the bitterness of the trouble. So today, as you notice the things that are missing, take time to feel the emptiness. Don’t run from it. Allow the empty to speak to you.

And when you do, you will appreciate the comfort that comes that much more.