Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God 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. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
This verse was given to me a few years back smack dab in the middle of my chaotic grief-filled life. My heart was silenced at the power of those words. I knew at that moment that I may not have had all the reasons as to why my dad died but I did have the purpose I was to take up after the grief had lifted.
This morning I sit here, saddened by the fact that, yet, another one of my friends have begun their journey in grief this past weekend. She lost her daddy. My heart broke as I spoke with her. It broke because of the pain in her voice that I was all to familiar with, it broke because I know the journey she is now on but did not choose to take and it broke because, in an instant, I could put myself back to that very second I lost my daddy, and the pain that was indescribable yet so very tangible.
I vowed to myself the moment I received that Bible verse several years ago that I would be the one that did exactly what that verse said to do. Quite
honestly people failed miserably (other than a very small few) but God
did not fail me. Ever. His comfort and Words were perfect. He comforted me so I could comfort somebody else. I will share that concept for the rest of my life.
Time & grief have passed. The God of all comfort comforted me so that my heart would be opened to show that same comfort I received to anyone I get the opportunity to talk to. I realize now that often times people who have not gone through that pain do not know what to say or do....and that is alright. However, because I have been comforted, I want to show comfort. It is only God that can truly heal a broken heart. My prayer is simply that He would use me as a catalyst to share even just a small fraction of that comfort with a friend. God will take it from there and heal. It is only God that can bring peace to a broken heart. It is only God that can restore and mend. I just get to point my friends to Him.
Today my friend begins her journey and my heart hurts for her but I know that the God of all comfort will comfort her just like He comforted me and anyone else that begins this unexpected journey.
