A Minister of Comfort

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. — 2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT

You’ve heard repeatedly that God causes all the circumstances of your life to work together for your good and His glory. But do you truly believe it?

Sometimes it is difficult. If a trial is sufficiently unexpected or painful, it can leave you wondering why God allowed you to face such turmoil.

The only way to deal with the suffering positively and proactively is to view it through the eyes of God. So ask Him to help you see your circumstances from His perspective. Everything won’t be completely clear, but you’ll have confidence that the Savior who redeemed you will not abandon His work in your life.

Always remember that you are the beloved child of the living God. If sorrow touches your life, the Lord knows all about it and catches your tears (Psalm 56:8). Yet He is strong enough to take your pain and loneliness and produce something worthwhile out of them. He will use the adversity you’ve experienced to help you reach out to others who have been hurt and are struggling. He will take your pain and tragedy and use both to mold you into a wise and caring minister of His comfort.

Jesus, thank You for working through my pain to make me into a minister of Your grace. Amen.

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The Turnaround

You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. — Genesis 50:20

The God you serve loves to turn seemingly hopeless situations around completely. Take Joseph, for example. He was sold into slavery by his brothers and dragged off to Egypt. Joseph gained some prominence there, but due to the unfair and false accusations of another, he spent years in an Egyptian prison.

To many, it may have appeared that God had forsaken Joseph. Rejected by family, enslaved, and imprisoned, what hope could he possibly have? To the unknowing eye, his was a useless, wasted life.

But God looked on Joseph and saw someone who stayed faithful despite the trials. Joseph honored the Lord and served others with godly devotion. And when the time was right, God turned everything around by raising Joseph up to lead Egypt, second in command to Pharaoh himself.

Likewise, there may be aspects of your life that feel hopeless. The most important thing you can do is to remain faithful to Jesus. Because when you do, you invite the Lord to be glorified in your life. So don’t lose heart, but honor God. He can and will turn your situation around in ways you cannot imagine.

Jesus, You can turn anything around! Thank You for working all things together for my good! Amen.

Excerpted with permission from God’s Purpose for Your Life by Charles F. Stanley, copyright Charles F. Stanley.

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Your Turn

Maybe you’ve heard the Christian cliché “God can turn your mess into a message”. It may sound cheesy, but it’s true! The Lord uses our pain, our stories, our history to help others along the way. We are comforted so we can give comfort. Suffering can enrich us with wisdom and compassion so we can help others. How have you seen that in your own life? Come share with us on our blog. We want to hear from you!