My "Alongside me" God

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! (4) He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.

Observation:

Many think that when God comforts us, our troubles should go away. But if that were always so, people would turn to God only out of a desire to be relieved of pain and not out of love for him. We must understand that being "comforted" can also mean receiving strength, encouragement, and hope to deal with our troubles. The more we suffer, the more comfort God gives us. If you are feeling overwhelmed, allow God to comfort you. Remember that every trial you endure will help you comfort other people who are suffering similar troubles

Application:

Has your heart ever been broken? What broke it? Cruelty? Failure? Unfaithfulness? Loss? Maybe you found a place alone to cry. Maybe you even feel shame or guilt when you cry, but my friend it’s good to cry. Scottish preacher George McDonald once said, "Tears are the only cure for weeping."

Psalm 56:8 (TM) You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.

Psalm 56:8 (ESV) You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?

Just think for a moment what that verse says, "God keeps track of every toss and turn you make in the middle of the night. He keeps your tears in his ledger, in a bottle. He as written every single ache in His book. He knows your pain. He knows when you are hurting. He knows when you do not have the answer. He knows when you feel forsaken, alone, rejected, and unloved. He KNOWS my friend!

Jesus wept at His friend Lazarus’ grave (John 11:35), and He weeps with us (v.33). His heart was broken as well. Our tears attract our Lord’s lovingkindness and tender care. He knows our troubled, sleepless nights. His heart aches for us when we mourn.

As our verse says, He is the “God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). And He uses His people to comfort one another.

But tears and our need for comfort come back all too frequently in this life. Present comfort is not the final answer. There is a coming a day when there will be no death, no sorrow, no crying, for all these things will “have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). There in heaven God will wipe away every tear. We are so dear to our Father that He will be the one who wipes the tears away from our eyes; He loves us so deeply and personally.

But until we have the ultimate relief from our sorrow, continue to remember, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).

Prayer:

"Lord, You do know every hurt, you see every toss and turn of a sleepless night. You record and file every tear. You enter every ache into Your book of remembrane. I am so thankful that You come alongside those who are hurting. You walk with us through this difficult time. You are my 'alongside me' God. I am so thankful that You do not leave or forsake me. There will come a time soon when the pain I am facing will be used to help someone else is going through a similar situation. Again, that is just the way You are! Thank You for that! In Jesus' name, amen!"