Comfort is strength – infused.
Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
~Isaiah 49:13
God’s Comfort infuses us with strength.
When I think of infusion, I think of infused olive oil served with fresh, crusty bread for dipping. It’s my favorite way to begin a meal. Slow down. Savor. Because, when aromatics like garlic or herbs soak in oil, you get the best flavors. On a spiritual level, infusion works too. Soaking in God’s presence, sharing our current experience with Him, we absorb the comfort and strength we need to relieve our distress and increase our well-being. This is true no matter what we are experiencing.
As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you, and you will be comforted…
~Isaiah 66:13
I picture that mother cradling her child. How safe she must feel. Author Ruth Haley Barton describes compassion:
“[Compassion is] loving immersion in the life of another, feeling their pain, sharing their hurt, touched deep in our being by their brokenness.”
~ Ruth Haley Barton, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership, Season 12, Episode 6
Just this way, God comforts us by holding us close, entering into our hardest experiences, and showing us the way through. I soak in God’s comfort by receiving whatever is happening and inviting God into it. We can invite God to participate with us wherever we are, and in whatever we’re doing, thinking, or feeling. Quietly, we invite God to participate in our attitudes, perceptions, and circumstances. We ask God to help us see what we need to see, hear what we need to hear and accept what we need to accept.
This moment, this situation, is within God’s attentive care. We can soak here. And when we do, we discover fresh courage, the courage we need to choose “I will fear no evil” as a mindset. We do not know how God will help, and we won’t necessarily see God working, but we can trust that God is doing what love calls for and overseeing outcomes. The Psalmist describes it like this:
“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD.”
~Psalm27:13-14 (NASB)
Comfort and Consolation
Soaking in God’s presence leads me to relax. Forcing no solutions, I simply look for opportunities. I notice when help arrives, often from a source I hadn’t expected, and I notice when strength grows within. This is how God helps me navigate the hardest situations with grace and wisdom.
Consolation means “receiving comfort,” which feels like a healing balm massaging into scorched emotions. A window of light opens. Grief and distress soften. A whisper of relief helps us relax before anything else changes. And when we relax, frightened feelings settle, worry and sadness decrease, and feelings of security – God’s got this – gain a foothold. A cheerful attitude gains space to grow. In God’s care, we can receive much-needed strength for body and soul.
Let Time Take Time
This process takes time, but it is powerfully equipping because once we’ve received this comfort from God, we have something to give. We comfort others with the comfort received. We do this by showing up. Being present with others. We don’t have to worry about what to say. If we need to say something, God can give us the words. Mostly, people just need someone to come alongside them. God will take it from there. God comforts us, we comfort others. This circle generates much healing.
May you relax into God’s comfort in your challenges today. And may you find joy as you extend comfort to those around you.
