This is always a bittersweet day for us. We rejoice and give thanks that we were given the gift of our beautiful daughter Rebekah on September 28th, 1983. Our fourth child, and our third daughter. Less than two years later she was joined by her sister Rachael….and six brothers followed her! Rebekah was able to claim September 28th as her own birthday until 1998 when her baby brother Daniel was born. She almost had to give it up two years prior when Joseph arrived on the 29th of September. It only annoyed her for a very short time however; because Rebekah was our “Martha Stewart” extraordinaire. She took it upon herself to create the fall “Trio birthday celebration” every September. Complete with apples, pumpkins, and all things orange!
Of course we will have a birthday celebration this weekend; but not only do I lack her decorating and planning skills, my heart is aching because of the huge hole that cannot be filled. I miss her so much, yet I’m keenly aware that where she is celebrating, is far beyond my imagination. Here we will have orange flowers and balloons; in heaven she sees the Son is shining in all His glory!
God has been so faithful to bring comfort to our brokenness. He is the only One who can truly heal the broken-hearted and bind up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 Why? Because He has experienced the depths of sorrow, rejection, and suffering far beyond anything that we have suffered; and He is the God of all comfort through it all!
Paul tells us that “He is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” I love that he includes the word “all” It means every, whole, always, and daily. There is nothing that we will experience in this life that is outside of His “comfort zone” It is all encompassing. His comfort is the word paraklesis- encouragement and consolation. When we allow Him to encourage and console us in our times of brokenness, it brings an inner healing that binds up our wounds.
The amazing thing about His comfort, is that when we are comforted, we are now able to comfort others. “That we may be able to comfort those who are in tribulation” Our comfort is the word parakaleo. It means to encourage, urge, exhort, and beseech. It reminds me of the Good Samaritan who found the man on the road to Jericho. He had been beaten and robbed, and left for dead. The pain that comes into our lives, and the losses that we experience can leave us feeling this way at times; broken and naked! It takes the right “Samaritan” to come along and pick us up, clean us up, and even invest some money that gets us back on our feet again.
That word able actually means to have the ability, and the power to accomplish an action. God’s comfort in our lives provides us with the power and ability to minister comfort to others. We were created to be grateful and to be thankful. When we are, it will show in our actions to others.
Paul also tells us “even as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation abounds through Christ.” There are times when our sufferings and misfortunes seem to be in an overflow mode; and when this is happening we need to remember that our consolations (comfort) are also abounding as we remain steadfast in our faith.
“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love; if any fellowship of Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Phil 2:1-2