Reassuring

Have you ever had someone with good intentions and well-meaning try to comfort or reassure you and it be more of a hindrance or seem to cause more issues? I know that I have, and I have been that person I am sure many times. It can be frustrating to say the least on both sides of this situation. 

The Bible version I use does not use the word reassure, a synonym would be comfort I think so I am going with that. 

There is only one thing that is always reassuring at any point in our lives, and even then, to us it might not seem as though it really accomplishes that goal. The Word of God is our comfort, it reassures us and will bring us hope. We only must learn to use it or allow it to work in the correct way. 

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:1-6

I know these verses speak first about "we who are strong" or "adult" Christians; I mean mature, maturity in a Christian can be found in any age. Those who are strong should provide comfort and bear the hesitations or doubt of those who are weak, but it goes on to say that the word was written for hope. That when we are like-minded, even if it is awkward, then the patience and comfort of the Lord through His Word will help us. As a result, we can Glorify God!

With the Bible being alive and speaking in different ways at different times, by its design (isn't God awesome); sometimes it must stomp on toes before it can comfort. That is part of edification. See in those verses, there is a very important word.... "learning"! We have to learn from the Word, that is why it was written. Then there is patience, then there is comfort.  I think that order is important. 

  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:2-8

I learned at a young age not to ask for patience in my prayers, because I would get it, but it comes from trials. To grow as a Christian and to be a comfort or to be comforted we need patience, and we need to not doubt our God. We can't expect very thing to be simple. 

I guess my point is not simple either... If we want to be comforted, or if I want to be a comfort it comes from God's Word. We need to study and allow it to work in our lives in a way that leads to our edification and the edification of others. That may cause us trials before it causes comfort, but no one ever said it would be a cake walk. We should remember that through His Word, God teaches us and allows us to learn to live an abundant life. The key is allowing it to happen...  

As usual this probably makes no sense... sorry.

Thanks for reading. God Bless You All!

One Comfort I have is that God is on my side even if it takes a while to remember it...