My chaplaincy program is going well.  It is a real blessing to work with the patients and staff at the hospital. And while some situations and conversations are much more serious and somber than others, I know the Lord is present, extending His grace and mercy to those in need.  I have been blessed to be present and witness Him bringing comfort to people as only He can, even in the most difficult of times.  It is always a humbling experience.

Every week I see people being comforted in the midst of their trials.  Yes, they are still grieving, but they lovingly speak of what sustains them.  They speak of faith, family and friends – the additional supports that hold up a weak and leaning fence even as it faces the high winds of a raging storm.  They speak of the strength gleaned from times of prayer and time spent in the Word.  They speak of the comfort received simply by having someone else with them, supporting them silently by holding their hand.  As I reflect on these things, I am often reminded Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

2 Cor 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Yes, there are many hurts and heartaches in the world.  We understand that because we can all relate to grief and loss; we can all relate to difficult times.  It is a fact that God is able to provide comfort and strength in all of those situations.  He is a good and merciful God.  If you are facing some difficulty today, I hope you know that you can turn to Him and lean on Him.  I pray that you receive His comfort.

And for those of us who know someone who may be dealing with grief today or facing a difficult time; for those of us who have been comforted by Him and who are praying for God to send comfort to someone else, may we understand that God often brings that comfort through us.