Comfort

Psalm 23:4 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

I've been thinking all day about the comfort of knowing that God is with us. What could be more comforting than knowing we are not alone--ever--even if we sometimes forget that he is there.

Sometimes there are painful and hard places that we wish he would rescue us from--come and take us out of. I've wished that he would parachute in sometimes and fix a situation, but usually we have to just keep going--we will get through in the end.- He does however promise that he will never leave us or forsake us; he will be with us as we go through the valley. Sometimes that's the comfort we need to share with others--the valley is real and difficult--but he is there with us. He is "the friend who sticks closer than a brother."

We take him with us into other people's painful situations. If we belong to him we bring with us his peace, comfort and hope. It is no small thing to carry him with us wherever we go--we carry in and with us, the Light before which all darkness vanishes.

Matthew 1:23 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

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