2 Corinthians 1:3, New Living Translation

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.”

If you have not stopped fellowshipping and living among Christ’s family, you possibly carry the same burden I do daily: constantly receiving prayer requests, constantly having people’s needs running through your mind, and constantly talking with Jesus about those needs. I do not deny that sometimes, somehow, it can feel like the heaviness is crushing down on you. On several occasion, I admitted it to Jesus: “Lord, my shoulders are not big and strong enough to carry that burden like Santa Claus carries his Christmas presents in the cartoons I watched. I will lay them down at Your feet and humble myself before You. This is not my burden to carry, and I will not pretend that I should or that I can.”

This is a truth I remind myself of quite often, especially in seasons with many needs, when the answers to prayer do not seem to happen instantly. You see someone you care about in agony, in pain, suffering physically or emotionally, and yet you feel helpless.

How important it is to remind ourselves that we are not God. Throughout the Bible, God has not asked us to fix lives, but to trust Him and to love others. How important it is to know, understand, and remember that God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

Sometimes we are tempted or deceived into thinking that what we are going through has come from God’s judgment or condemnation because of our wrongdoing. Instead, we need to recognize the truth that we are living in a fallen world, and the prince of this world is the devil, who is a liar, deceiver, murderer, and thief. We also experience the natural consequences of our actions, because we reap what we sow. Still, I hope you will stand firm in this truth:

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16, NLT

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8, NIV

Our God is your Father, and He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of all comfort. All comfort means that in literally each and every situation you are facing, and with every need you have, you can find comfort in Him through knowing His love and trusting that He has your best interest in His will.

You are in His purpose, and you have a purpose that He created you for. No matter how things go or how things look, He intends to accomplish and fulfill His great purpose in and through your life. This is why He calls you:

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28, BSB

All praise to God, in all circumstances and at all times! We can have assurance because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”Hebrews 13:8, NIV

If you could trust Jesus in your past and in your good times, then continue to trust Him now and tomorrow. He is here for you, and you can call on Him.