Through the Darkest Valley
Comfort lands differently in different contexts and seasons. An ice-cold glass of water with a slice of lemon brings cool comfort in the Texas heat right about now. Give us a few months, and (Lord willing!) nothing will be nicer than a mug of hot tea in cupped hands.
The ferocity of the summer heat is beaten away by the whir of a ceiling fan and the almost non-stop cycling of a good air conditioner, but true comfort will be found under a pile of quilts and the warmth of a crackling fire in the fireplace once winter’s chill settles in.
These are small conveniences in response to first-world problems, but real sorrows and real troubles are no respecter of persons. Comfort is a welcome visitor to all cultures and in every story.
When a heart aches with loss or disappointment, a friend’s hug is the arms of God wrapping around us. Conversely, after a busy day of “people this and people that,” a quiet space with the Lord is the perfect place to be. Both the hug and the solitude are God’s comfort. They’re just camouflaged differently in accordance with the need.
The Bible eloquently elaborates on comfort as one of the many facets of God’s character. One of the more famous verses is Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (NIV) Here, David emphasizes God’s presence and protection as His source of comfort. Isaiah 40:1 says, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” (NIV) The prophet Isaiah then goes on to repeatedly share God’s promises of comfort to His people as he focuses on their recovery from a long season of discipline brought on as consequence for their sin. Nacham is the Hebrew word for comfort, and in this context, it carries an element of invigorating, strengthening, “the brightest hopes of the future and the highest incentives to present activity.” (H.E. Jacobs) God’s comforting presence gives us what we need to move forward in hope.
In the New Testament, the Greek word parakaleo is used for comfort. It carries the connotation of coming alongside another to offer assistance and support. Jesus promised believers this kind of comfort in the Person of the Holy Spirit. The New King James Version describes Him as our Helper in John 14:26: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” Just as the Holy Spirit comes to our aid in weakness and distress and reminds us of God’s precious promises, so we’re called to give that same comfort and help to others who are suffering. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” We find the Lord’s emotional and spiritual support in the promises found in His Word, in His presence via the Holy Spirit, and in community provided by His people. And then we’re commissioned with the tender privilege of sharing it with the world around us.
All of this points to God’s kindness and care. In the Old Testament, we see how His very presence enlivens us with a newfound vigor and anticipation for the future. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit continually encourages us with hope and peace. We come to realize that true comfort isn’t merely the absence of pain, but the nearness of God in the midst of it. Comfort comes in trusting God’s sovereign plans and looking forward to that Eternal Day when every tear is wiped away and there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain.
The long nights of tear-drenched pillows and the wearying days of sorrow-heavy hearts will one day come to an end. Be comforted, dear one. God’s promised it in His Word, and He is faithful.
“He Who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making all things new!’ Then He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” – Revelation 21:5
