I will comfort you
Continuing our “Promises of God”, we will consider six more promises: The first one is found in Isaiah 66:13: “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort thee .
Could anything be more wonderful than this promise? Most of us remember how our mothers comforted us, how we came to her with a hurt finger, a skinned knee, and with all our little problems that seemed great to us. No matter how trivial our problem might be, she always found time to take us in her arms and kiss away our hurts. And, somehow, after she had kissed our wounds, and talked soothingly and lovingly to us, they ceased to hurt so much, and we could run away and play again. So it is with us; if we turn to our heavenly Father, He will likewise comfort us.
We might ask, what comfort is there for us when we are languishing on beds of sickness, with four walls closing inexorably in upon us? There is no comfort except that given by God, the knowledge that He is with us in the darkest hour, making the days and nights bearable with His love. And we console ourselves with the thought “that our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2nd Corinthians 4:17). It is only for a moment in God’s eternal destiny that we must suffer thus, and if we keep our minds fixed on the great reward that is soon to be given to the faithful, we will to some extent forget the pains that wrack us. Or if we are still able to be about our daily duties, but suffer from some incurable disease, what then? God could instantly heal the disease, but, perhaps, like Paul, He gives us this thorn in the flesh to keep us from being unduly exalted, or for some other reason, in order to keep us close to Him. It is better to suffer now the loss of all things than to lose our inheritance in the kingdom to come. “. . . We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 15:22).
What consolation is there when a dear one is taken and loneliness presses in on us until our hearts are bleeding and broken? There should be consolation in the fact that the trials of our loved ones are all over, and “henceforth there is laid up for the faithful a crown of righteousness which the Lord . . . shall give him at that day . . .” (2nd Timothy 4:8). And it is only a short time now until that glorious morning when we shall meet again. We “sorrow not even as others which have no hope” (1st Thessalonians 4:13).
We have a cherished dream that does not materialize, and the earth seems a dreary place. But is it dreary? It is if we make it so, but our grief can turn into gladness if we realize that, after all, our dream was but a fleeting mirage, and that in God’s vineyard much better things await us that will give us greater joy.
Our children who have left us seem to have no further interest in us, and it seems that we cannot bear it. But what of the countless children who have no homes and are longing for the touch of a loving hand? Can we not be a mother or father to them, and in so doing forget our own hurts and sorrows? Jesus tells us that God watches over the little sparrows, and not one of them falls to the ground without Him. Then He asks us, “Are ye not of more value than many sparrows?” What could be more marvelous than this? The great God of the endless universe yet has time for even His weakest and humblest child. God’s love will not let us go if we are truly His. As a mother comforts her child, so His eternal love will enfold and comfort us.
The second promise is found in Isaiah 43:2: “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
We remember how the Israelites passed through the Red Sea; how the waters were swept back by a divine hand until a dry path was formed, through which the people marched safely to the other side. We also recall the story of the three Hebrews who refused to worship an image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and because of this were cast into a burning, fiery furnace. They not only were not consumed, but even their clothes had not been singed.
Most likely none of us will be called upon to face such literal dangers. But if, in order to test our faith, something like this should happen to us, if we trust God completely and entirely, we will be given the strength and courage to say as did the Hebrews: “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, but if not, we will not bow down to the image”, or whatever it is we may be asked to do. God will help us in any trial, for the Scriptures tell us that ” . . . God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Today we must, however, pass through seas of trouble, and fiery furnaces of affliction. “. . .” We must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Sometimes this requires even greater courage than to suffer literal pain, for our testing’s seem to be almost continuous, and day by day we must receive strength from God to combat the troubles of this evil time.
The third promise is found in Isaiah 49:15,16: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands . . . .
There is nothing more enduring in this wicked world than a mother’s love. Poets have written volumes about it, and musicians from time immemorial have composed songs about it that have lived on through many years to the present time. Many mothers have even followed unworthy sons to the gallows or electric chair, faithful to the very last. They sacrifice for us, and worry about us, long after we have left our childhood homes, and if necessity arises would give their very lives for us. In happiness they rejoice with us; in sorrow they comfort us; and when they finally leave us, one of the greatest blessings of our lives has gone from us. But, sad to relate, there ARE mothers who will leave their helpless little children, and for no cause other than their own selfish interests. This author once worked in an adoption agency and saw mothers leave their heartbroken, supplicating little ones and go their way without once looking back. But God Never leaves us as long as we belong to Him. We will Never shed tears and grieve over His desertion. And just think how precious we must be to Him that He has engraved us on the palms of His hands! No, He will Never leave us nor forsake us.
The fourth promise is found in Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper . .
It does seem that the evil ones who have plotted against us prosper, while we are cast down into the depths. Yes, they do seem to prosper for a time. But consider Psalms 37, which tells us that the wicked may flourish like a green bay tree . . . but we shall consider his place and it shall not be” (verses 35,36). He shall be gone as completely as though he had never been, while we will have eternal life with our Heavenly Father. Only for a few short years can the wicked harm us.
The fifth promise is found in Jeremiah 29:13: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
Many of us seek God half-heartedly, and so we never find Him. He does not wish half-hearted service, He requires whole-hearted devotion, and this only will He accept. God will not reveal Himself to us as long as we are unwilling to place ourselves and everything we possess on the altar of sacrifice, and walk, if need be, entirely alone with Him. Are we doing this, or are we keeping back just one little indulgence that couldn’t possibly harm anybody anyway? Are we dallying with the world and holding on to some of its pleasures, while professing to be the children of God? Do we really want to find Him? Is His spirit dwelling within us? Let us search our hearts and see. Do we sometimes feel a vast emptiness within ourselves, and wonder why we are so dissatisfied with everything, so restless and discontented? If this is the case, we have not really found God. How are we to find Him? We are to search for Him with all our hearts. God has told us: “This is the way, walk ye in it.” The people of the world dash here and there, travel to far places, buy beautiful homes and cars, yet there is still this loneliness within them. Nothing but God can satisfy this vague and restless longing. Let us turn to Him and seek Him in the way He has told us to do, and we Shall find Him, and with Him find happiness at last.
The sixth promise is found in Lamentations 3:32: “But though he cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.”
This Scripture tells us that God causes grief. At first glance it may seem strange that such should be the case. Some have argued that, since God is a God of love, He never brings anything but joy and happiness to His children. God does not cause grief directly, but He allows us to experience it if He sees that we are in need of His chastening. And let us remember that if we are not chastened, then “we are bastards and not sons” (Hebrews 1 2 :8) .
We all know how parched the earth becomes, and how vegetation dies if sunshine is continuous, and there are no clouds, fog or rain to refresh the ground. How the farmer watches for rain, and how much lovelier everything is after it has gone and the sun comes out again! And how much brighter the sunlight in our lives is, and how much more we appreciate it after our wearisome journey through the shadows! And how much more quickly we succour our associates, who, like the man who fell among thieves, wait for the man or woman who will not pass by on the other side! God’s overwhelming love will see us safely through any perplexity, and we will come forth, no longer a diamond-in-the-rough, but to sparkle and shine as a guide to others groping in the dark, and anxious to find the light.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One