Comfort One Another

I was on the phone late last night talking and crying with a friend.  She related a story to me that broke my heart.  When her daughter was 8 she was molested.  As she talked I could feel her tears and her heart just aching.  The complex emotions that were still raw and the anger towards those who would do this and those who didn't help her daughter when they had the chance like their pastor were evident.

We talked about my own experience with my daughter and how she suffered and is still suffering from a bad relationship that left her devastated and trying to figure out how to raise two boys now on her own. A whole range of emotions of anger, hurt, frustration, and sadness have taken its toll. 

It is hard to protect the ones we love as human beings.  I am sure that God when He sent His only begotton Son to this world must have gone through the same emotional gambit. At His birth there was joyful singing.  But through Jesus' life there must have been tenseness, hand wringing, and wishing, by God, that He could just snatch His Son and bring Him back into the protection of heaven so that He didn't have to suffer at the hand of those terrible sinful humans guided by the enemy, Satan. Yet Jesus remained and endured it for our sakes.

My friend has a strong faith.  It shines pearls and diamonds.  It is treasure that she shares with others so that they too can enjoy the brightness and beauty of what God is doing for us while we are still here on this earth waiting for that wonderful day when Christ our lover and friend will come and get us.  This is what she shared with me, not in text but from her experience in dealing with such hurtful experiences:

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

 Be encouraged dear ones.  Know that you are not alone.  God is merciful and loving towards you.  Put your head on His shoulder and rest.  Be comforted.  You are precious in His sight.  More precious than diamonds or rubies.  He loves you with love that prompted Him to come and die in your place.  He is risen and preparing for us. (John 14:1-3) Soon we will be with him in Glory never to be hurt again.  Have faith and hold on.