Devotional – Comfort Others by Keona J Tann

On the 25th of February this year (2020) I awoke from a dream where God had directed me to comfort a widow. In my dream I introduced myself; held her hand; I cried with her; I prayed for her; and admired the dress she showed me that she would wear at the funeral. It didn’t feel like a big act but God and the lady thanked me for it.

As I awoke and spent time reflecting upon my dream God showed that what I’d done had been an act of evangelism. That revelation confirmed what God has been trying to show me – evangelism is simply showing God’s love to others in whatever way He prompts us to because anything and everything that we do for others on God’s behalf is revealing His love to them. In the past I’d always thought of evangelism as something I could never do because I didn’t consider myself a good public speaker (the mere thought of it would turn me into a quivering mess), but God has grown me and strengthened me to speak publicly; He has also simplified what evangelism is and I now understand that it takes many forms and can be seen in every act of love that we do. A way that we can show God’s love is by comforting others.

What is Comfort?

One powerful example of biblical comfort is found in Isaiah 40, after the Israelites had been in exile for 70 years in Babylon God spoke to the prophet Isaiah:

“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!”

Says your God.

“Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her,

That her warfare is ended,

That her iniquity is pardoned;

For she has received from the Lord’s hand

Double for all her sins.” Isaiah 40:1-2 (NKJV)

Rev. David Bast explains: “When God speaks comfort he not only changes how we feel; he changes how we are. Biblical comfort doesn’t just give us an emotional lift. When the Lord comforts his people he takes away our sorrow, our pain and despair, not by anesthetizing us or helping us to forget our troubles for a little while, but by dealing with the root cause of that trouble. God comforts us by delivering us out of our bondage to despair.”

In Isaiah 40 the Israelites were to be physically delivered from their exile, but more importantly they were pardoned (delivered) from the sins that had separated them from God. God gave the prophet Isaiah a powerful message that not only changed how the Israelites felt but also how they were:

• Once in despair but now full of hope.
• Once slaves now free!
• Once far away now reconciled.
• Once homeless now to have a home forevermore.

Heavy Burdens

The burden for the lost is overwhelming and far too big for us to carry, that’s why we need the Lord to help us. When Moses was given the task of freeing the Israelites from Egypt he did not immediately respond with excitement because he felt ill equipped, but God assured Moses that He would personally help (see Exodus 3:12). I believe that promise stands true for us today – that God will personally help each of us with the assignments given.

Yes, the burden for the lost is heavy but God plants that in our hearts to prompt us to reach out. The burden is heavy, but Charles Spurgeon declares “Each burden we have to carry, was once laid on the shoulders of Immanuel.” Long before we were given a burden for the lost Jesus held it within His heart and outworked it with His life, death and resurrection. That means that Jesus understands the heaviness of the burden, He understands how it can weigh us down and He invites us to partner with Him so that the burden is light enough to bear. We can rejoice and share the Good News because we were once in despair, but now we’re full of hope; we were once slaves but are now free; we were once far away but are now reconciled to God; and we were once homeless but now have a home forevermore. Allow God’s comfort to go deep because I believe God’s comfort changes not only how we feel but also how we are – no longer timid and meek we become bold and courageous.

Comfort Others

I believe that a simple and powerful way we can evangelise (share the Good News) is by comforting others. How can we comfort others? Simply show them God’s love. It may be that you hold someone’s hand while they cry and tell you all their troubles; you may be given a prophetic word for someone that brings them comfort and confirmation; you may be prompted to send a text to someone letting them know that you’re thinking about them; it may be that God prompts you to go up to a stranger and say: “hi, I just wanted to let you know that God loves you. If you need a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on or someone to pray with you I want you to know that I can be that for you.”

In whatever way God wants to use you please allow Him to. Remember that the Holy Spirit is described as being the great Comforter, the One Who comforts and encourages us in the midst of our troubles so that we will be able to comfort and encourage others. This is a promise that the Holy Spirit will impart to us a supernatural comfort so that we can comfort others (see John 14:26 (AMP) & 2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Know that the possible embarrassment and judgment from others will pass away but what will remain is that you were obedient and revealed God’s love.

“In a life where all is passing away, where in the end we must say good-bye to everything, every earthly good, all our Jerusalems even, one thing endures, abides, remains eternal: the promises of God. And those promises bring comfort.” Rev. David Bast

Today be encouraged! Know that evangelism is something that you CAN do because it is simply you revealing and outworking God’s love to others. Evangelism is something that can take many forms and whatever way He prompts you to reveal His love, please do it knowing that He will strengthen and assist you every single step of the way.

Prayer

I invite you to join me in this prayer:

Holy Spirit I invite You to come into the midst of all my troubles, please bring Your great comfort, change how I am as well as how I’m feeling. Let hope arise in my heart that You are faithful to do what You promise to do and that You will see me safely through my current trial. Impart to me Your supernatural comfort so that I may comfort others. Lead and direct me; equip and prepare me; let my heart break for the things that break Your heart; change me and mould me; shift me and make me more like Jesus. Thank You for the promise that You will personally help me with the assignments given. May I live my life in such a way that it brings God glory and honour. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

I’d love to hear how God moves in your life and brings you comfort. Has He changed not only how you have felt but also how you were?

Many blessings,

Keona

Notes:

You can read Rev. David Bast’s full article at: https://www.woh.org/radio/comfort-my-people/

Charles Spurgeon “Morning By Morning” devotion dated January 23