Occasionally, simply stated, we just need comfort in troubling times. Everything from a lingering pandemic to politics, from personal sickness to personal struggles, from cultural breakdown to institutional lunacy, from social media mania to big tech intrusion, all these things bring with them a heaviness of the soul. We look around and wonder what is going on in our culture, our institutions, among Christians, and in world events. God knew we needed comfort for days like these. He specifically left us a special word both about grief and about days just like this.
Comfort in Troubling Times
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep,
lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord
will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
The Apostle Paul, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, instructed us to comfort one another with these words. Let me briefly answer two questions related to this text.
1. Why comfort one another?
Paul understood that life brings a level of difficulty. In this particular text, the Apostle relates to those who have died in the faith. No doubt death and the realities of sin’s curse bring us down. In the greater sense of this section of the book, Paul encourages us to live a kind of life that honors the Lord. He recognized the necessity of receiving comfort in this process. The burdens and concerns of life weigh heavy on each of us. Our lists of responsibilities and concerns seemingly grow longer and longer. A lingering pandemic, death, destruction, and heartbreak are all very real. As we look around our society, we are reminded of the depths of depravity in our government, our communities, and many times in our souls. We think about what it may be like in the near future. The combination of all these things can discourage any person.
2. What comforts us?
The Apostle Paul identified the realities of God’s future plan as that which comforts our hearts. God both takes care of those who have died in Christ, and He plans for our future as well. Regardless of your personal view of the end times, we rejoice together in that all those who have died in Christ and all those who are alive at His coming will together spend our future with the Lord. The bottom line: God has a plan and is working out His plan. As we consider the future, God’s plans, God’s provisions, and God’s power, we receive comfort. We have no reason to be overwhelmed by today because we know that God has today and tomorrow and the future accounted for in His plans. We read, study, meditate on, and rejoice in God’s future plan. Whether it is sorrow over the death of someone (the immediate text here) or the greater issue of discouragement in a troubled world (the greater end of this book), our hearts receive comfort from the truths of God’s plan and provisions. We need not fear tomorrow; God is the God of tomorrow as well.
Take Heart Christian, Receive Comfort from God’s Power and Plan
Are these times troublesome? Yes.
Have we all lost those we love in this pandemic? Almost everyone.
Do the world system, government, big business and individual sinners lay additional burdens on you? More than likely, yes.
All these things realities land in our hearts and burden our souls.
But wait, my friend! God leaves a word of comfort in the midst of all these things. God provides a ray of hope – a ray of truth to help our burdened souls find rest and peace. As the psalmist prayed:
Reveal your light and your faithfulness.
They will lead me,
they will escort me back to your holy hill,
and to the place where you live.
Psalm 43:3
God provides a word of truth which help escort us back into His presence where we can find comfort for our souls and rest for our thoughts. Is there much to be concerned over and for which we need to be thoughtful? Absolutely. However, the light that shines out over troubled waters safely brings us into God’s presence where we find shelter, comfort, safety, and rest.
Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
Image Credit Marcus Cramer
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
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