God of all Comfort


God of All Comfort 

Today, while the nation and our island neighbors reel from the recent series of devastating storms, the U.S. awakened to the horror of the worst mass murder in our history. We join our hearts and prayers with all those whose families are suffering in the wake of the shooting in Las Vegas. As the hours pass, firsthand stories of the horror as it unfolded are coming forth. At the same time, many accounts of bravery and good are also being told. May God who is “a very present help in trouble” come to the aid of the injured and overshadow those whose loved ones were killed, including the family of the perpetrator of this tragedy.
 
Two unavoidable questions every person confronts at various times and in various ways are the questions of suffering and evil. In the event of His life as a mortal human Christ Himself is the answer. Jesus suffered the full force of mortal vulnerability and weakness from birth to death. In innocence He ultimately placed Himself between each of us and eternal death as He suffered injustice perpetrated against Him by evil and died on a cross for our sakes.
 
Jesus’ trust in His heavenly Father gave Him help and guidance in His most difficult hours. His words to his friends as he faced His final storm speak to us today: “…I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world” (John 16:31-33 MSG).
 
When suffering comes and there are no ready answers, when evil has its way, we have two choices: turn to God in hope and faith or turn away from God in anger and pain. The bible says “perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” (2 Timothy 3). Every heart needs what Christ alone creates through the power of His own suffering, death, and resurrection. While suffering remains a mystery there is equal comfort in personal faith in Christ. We are not abandoned.
 
As dawn broke this morning an endless stream of volunteers stood in line to give blood for the hundreds of persons injured in last night’s shooting. This reminds us of Christ Himself and gives us comfort, hope, and guidance. Pray for those impacted by these events. Pray for those coming to assist in the wake of these tragedies. Pray for our President and First Lady as they are called upon to lead and comfort. Pray for the heroic first responders, police, and military personnel, engaged in every place. We continue to trust, unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. Let us believe Him and through Him come to the aid and comfort of our neighbors.
 
“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 tribulation, 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. 1:3-4).
 
We are praying for all those suffering and injured. We are praying for our nation. We are praying for you,
Mahesh and Bonnie