The comfort of God’s forgiveness

Xanthe Galanis

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for,that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.  Isaiah 40:1-2

In Isaiah 40, God desires to comfort his people. In the first 39 chapters of Isaiah the message is anything but comforting. It is a message of judgment against nations, kingdoms, cities, and people. However, in chapter 40 we see a change in the focus of the prophecy - now it is to comfort God's people after their trials.

The Hebrew verb translated as “comfort” (nacham) means to console or calm down someone. This same verb appears later in Isaiah when the Lord says: “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” (66:13). For Judah, God’s comfort came especially in the good news of his new work of restoration.

God continues to comfort us today in a variety of ways. When we take our worries to him in prayer, God gives us the gift of his peace. When we remember his faithfulness in the past, we are calmed in the present. Often God’s comfort comes through his people, who care for us, suffer with us, pray for us, and share God’s love with us in tangible ways. Thus we have the chance, not only to receive divine comfort, but also to be instruments of this comfort to others.

Think about the times when you have experienced God’s comfort in the past, and remember his faithfulness if you need his comfort today. Who in your life needs to experience God’s comfort?  Are you willing to be a channel of his comfort?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for showing us that you bring comfort when we feel distress.  Even as you have comforted me, may I share your comfort with others. Help me to be sensitive to those around me, to feel their worry and distress. Amen.