Comfort in Suffering

My comfort in suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

(Psalm 119:50, NIV)

Is there comfort in suffering? Sounds oxymoron, right?

We can’t ignore the voice of our own body to slow down. The last weeks I've been so caught up with different issues that it was very hard to guard my stress level. Although my mind knew I need lots of space to slow down but circumstances didn't seem to permit. Fine, maybe I’ve failed to organize my mind and time efficiently. A whole lot of emotional entanglement was thrown into sorting out all issues. I wish I could have handle all life’s going in a better way. My gastric discomfort was the first warning. It was too mild for me to get worried over as I was nursing my back muscle tension. On the spiritual realm I was fighting battles as I stand in the gap as an intercessor. What a ground I've given away to allow the enemy to attack.

The next thing I found was a brand new condition my body was suffering. Gastric reflux. It last whole day and night. One week passed, then another, then another. It was still persistent. I couldn't eat and sleep properly. My most basic needs were deprived. Completely debilitating!

The desperation for God’s deliverance increased. I wanted to hear his voice not only in all the initial issues I presented him, but also in my present suffering. And he spoke in Psalm 119:50. The comfort is his promises. While I struggled to keep my focus in him and things above, he reminded me to remember his promises. But what are those promises? I began journalling them as I opened the bible. His assurance calmed me. These aren't just empty words.

They are words of life.
They preserve.
They heal.
They give hope when the dark cloud is hanging over.
They are light when we are walking in a long lonely dark tunnel.

I immersed myself in those promises and remember that God is a covenant keeper. Surely I must trust him with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

What are you suffering? The good news is there’s comfort. Yes. You read correctly. Comfort in suffering. Oxymoron but that's exactly what the verse states. Look up his promises. Call to remembrance what he has already spoken. Confess them. Claim them. Charge them into your spirit today!

Dear Lord, in my suffering, I remember Christ who first suffered for me. His sufferings delivered me and redeemed me. Thank you – today, I can safely walk in those promises of your victory and deliverance. Lord, lift my spirit up! Give light to my eyes, strength to my body, and a heart to store all of your promises. I regain my ground and close the door to the enemy who seek to kill and destroy. I place my trust in God, my Saviour. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Comfort in The Light

let us walk in the light of the LORD.

(Isaiah 2:5, NIV)

Poof! Not again. The electricity was cut off a few rounds that day. It was already night. The whole house was swamped over by darkness. My husband quickly reached for the candles and lighted them. The household was turned into a warm cozy ambience as some would say with candle lights. But I don’t particularly like the dim candle light, the small yellow fire burning and all our shadows cast on the walls. Maybe for a little while is fun. I could use it to teach some science and play some shadow games with the children. But not for the entire night. I like the clear brightness of the fluorescent lighting where I can see with clarity and move freely.

In the process of getting more candles lighted, the electricity came on again. So it was just a short spell this time. Phew…I sighed a big relief. “How good it is to be in the light,” I commented. Instantly, the thought struck me. “Oh yea, it is so good to be in the light that a short stint of darkness causes so much discomfort.”

God has shown us the way – the path of light in him. I cannot imagine still living in darkness and groping aimlessly with fear and anxiety, without God. The prophet Isaiah gave a strong call, “let us walk in the light of the Lord.”

God’s light enters our life the moment we call him, Lord and Saviour. But we have to choose to want to walk in it. Psalm 119:5 tells us that his word is a lamp for our feet, a light on our path. The Word of God gives us direction and guidance. It is liken to the light which shines at our feet as we walk on the path of life. Walking in his light is a sure comfort knowing that Someone is always watching over us and keeping us on track. It is reassuring to know that we will always have enough light for our steps so we will not fall off. Even if we do fall, the light will govern us so strongly that we will be able to get up quickly and continue with it.

When we are living in the Light, we will recognize the slightest darkness that comes over us. It makes us so uncomfortable we want to be delivered immediately. That was the case for me when the electricity was cut off. This is such a reminder that as children of light, we can no longer live in darkness. But how many people are still trapped in darkness? Let us be urgent to be agent of deliverance.

Dear Lord, Grant me the power of your light to be your agent to rescue many who are still in darkness. Today I thank you for shining your light at my path. If I've gone a bit off track, gently bring me back. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Songs of Life

The LORD your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.

(Zephaniah 3:17, NIV)

While I desperately needed God to come through in the various personal situations, he directed some cases to deal with in others’ lives. My eyes switched from my own troubles to the pain others are carrying. As I listened to each talked about their big problems which entails such deep distress and pain in the mind, soul and spirit; I kept reminding these dear ones there is no problem too big for God, our Saviour. That truth resonated in return to my own ears.

As I struggle in my own thoughts while I grapple with different issues in my life and interceding for these dear ones I requested God to give each a song. We need to hear a new song from him in our different seasons. He promises in the verse above that he is with us, and he saves for he is the Mighty Warrior. He saves irrespective of our troubles. He does not just save, but continue to take great delight in us as he showers us with his songs of love and deliverance. So I pray:

For the emptiness of the soul, he sings a song of love.
For the broken hearted, he sings a song joy.
For the distress, he sings a song of peace.
For the lost, he sings a song of hope.

There are still many songs available from heaven. One to suit each of God’s children in each season. There is the song of freedom, the song of deliverance, the song of faith, the song of victory, and the list is endless.

I confessed and claimed the verse one night. Then I slipped into dreamland. I dreamed that God’s angels sang in my living room while I was getting ready to bed. It was a sweet song. That night before I slept, I was in distress.

At bedtime my children would often request, “Mum, sing us a song.” Mum’s soothing voice calms and comforts. But, our Father's voice is the most powerful in whatever capacity you need.

What song(s) do you need? Place a request now with your Father and hear the music play. Just listen…

Dear Lord, what song are you singing over me? Let me hear it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.