Friday, July 10, 2009

We Can Comfort Because We Have Been Comforted

Tim Challies of http://www.challies.com has posted an interview today that he did with Terry Stauffer. Terry is pastor at a Baptist church in Edson, Alberta, Canada. Last September Terry and Jaunita's 14-year-old daughter, Emily, was attacked and killed while she was out for a walk. Nothing can be more terrible to a parent than to lose a child.

While I deal with cancer, or you deal with some other pain, it is important that we know that we are not in this pain alone. On one hand there are others who deal with worse pain, much much worse pain. We are not alone in experiencing pain. On the other hand as Christians we have the reassurance of the gospel, that God loves us, that He is sovereign and rules over all things, that He is the active agent in our salvation. And that no matter how fearful our path may appear God assures us that we are safe in His hands. No matter what. John 10:27-30 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

I hope you will take the time to read Tim's interview with Terry. Especially if you, too, are dealing with tough things in your life. You can find that interview here.

Today's Verse: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "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 affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

3 comments:

Debby said...

I cried reading this, but it is the truth.

The thing that I learned during cancer, is that I have always been quick to offer help, to minister to others. What I learned is that being ministered to is just as faith growing as minstering to others. In my whole life, I never knew that.

Mariclar said...

It's amazing how God can work in a seemingly tragic situation. In Christ there is comfort and hope.
What a powerful interview!
I loved what Terry Stauffer wrote:

"The beauty of the gospel is that if fits every need and every occasion."

and....

A Spurgeon quote:
“Dear friend, have you found that trouble cuts the cords that tie you to earth? When the Lord takes a child, there is one less cord to fasten you to this world and another band to draw you toward heaven. When money vanishes and business goes wrong, we frequent the prayer meeting, the prayer closet and the Bible. Trials drive us from earth. If all went well, we would begin to say, “Soul, relax”. But when things go amiss, we want to be gone. When the tree shakes, the bird flies away. Happy is the trouble that loosens our grip of earth.” - From Beside Still Waters

blushing rose said...

He holds us up through all ... TTFN ~Marydon