When Your Heart Breaks

“Comfort zone” is a phrase that has entered our vocabulary to describe situations we find acceptable. Getting dragged or pushed out of that zone can make us miserable inside and out! When we’re stressed, some of us look for “comfort food” that remind us of happy times and places; usually it is simple fare like a hotdog or a big slice of chocolate cake. Men, especially, have clothes that are comforting, that ragged sweatshirt or pair of jeans they have worn for a decade. Then, too, there is solace to be found in music. Depending on preference, it might be a sad country song about a lost love. an old hymn about heaven, or a concerto from Mozart that touches our soul.

Early this morning, I awakened to crushing sadness. I felt the wetness of tears on my face, though I was not aware that I was crying. The sweetness of prayer allowed me to find the “God of all comfort.” I simply told my Abba that I was broken, that disappointment was great, and He whispered back into my darkness – “I will never leave you, never forsake you. I am the God of all comfort.”  Profound peace settled over me and, in a few moments, sleep returned. Such is the blessing for those who know Him as the “Comforter.”

Many people in this world are crushed and destroyed by their sorrow, because they turn to the wrong places for solace. Addictions may result from seeking comfort in a wine glass or prescription pill. Neurosis may take over when disappointment is allowed to morph into continuous rage. Our bodies will break under the pressures of stress, if we fail to find soul solace.

God’s comfort does not just ‘get us through’ the tough times. He lifts us, strengthens us, and causes us to stand up under the burden of sorrow. Disappointment, missed expectations, tragedy, and even death are unavoidable parts of the human experience. We can just try to survive and get back into our comfort zone, or we can live in those moments, feeling, knowing, learning, growing! How? By trusting God deeply and accepting the comfort of the Holy Spirit.  Our "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, …  comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV)

God, the Holy Spirit, is called “the Comforter” in the Word. In the first language of the Bible the word is Parakletos, describing someone who becomes our advocate when life becomes too much to manage on our own. Literally the word means “to come alongside.”  When we turn to Him in prayer, God comes to our side, stands with us, leads us through, gives comfort. Is your heart heavy today? Do other comforts call to you, things that are no real comfort at all?  With the simplest of faith, with a child-like expectation, turn to the Lord.

Here’s the word from the Word.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV)

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Is your burden heavy

As you bear it all alone?

Does the road you travel

Harbor danger yet unknown?

Are you growing weary

In the struggle of it all?

Jesus will help you

When on His name you call.

He is always there.

Hearing ev'ry prayer,

Faithful and true.

Walking by our side,

In His love we hide,

All the day through.

When you get discouraged

Just remember what to do-

Reach out to Jesus,

He's reaching out to you.

Reach Out To Jesus

© 1968 Bud John Songs, Inc. (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Ralph Carmichael

CCLI License No. 810055