WHEN COMFORT COMES FIRST

The winter season is here in the northern hemisphere, and for many of us, the season is a fitting one for our personal heartaches, family sorrows, and genuine concern for our country and world. The daylight has lessened, the weather is cold and harsh, and a sense of isolation deepens as we shelter indoors. As my soul continues to abide in a time of darkness *, any glimmers of peace or hope feel fragile and fleeting.

But during the 12 Days of Christmas, I was blessed by the daily reflections offered at Cloister Notes with Dr. Almut Furchert.¹ The spiritual meditations shared by Dr. Almut and Chuck Huff, PhD, were perfect for reading and reflecting in this time. At the end of the season, I wrote this note of thanks:

My hurting soul has felt nearly desperate to find hope and peace for this time; and here, I have found a quiet comfort that I sense will eventually lead to this hope and peace. In every post, I can feel your genuine humility, holy longing, deep compassion, and willingness to let the Spirit lead. Thank you.”

I am learning that a sense of comfort is an essential first step toward regaining peace and hope… that God works to restore our peace and hope by first providing comfort in times of discouragement, darkness, or despair.

When life caves in, you do not need reasons — you need comfort. You do not need some answers — you need someone. And Jesus does not come to us with an explanation — He comes to us with His presence.
~ Bob Benson

When problems or troubles can’t be quickly remedied, God’s comforting presence feels like a loving guardian who holds us and listens to our concerns, soothes our aching hearts, and eases our anxieties, so we feel understood and beloved. God’s comfort comes through the companions who sit with us in the darkness… who share our heartaches… who offer encouragement yet honor our silence… who cover us in prayer… who help us feel less alone… whose words sustain us… whose presence helps us to endure.

As we abide in the darkness, we are never alone. Infinite Love remains with us and in us. Infinite Love comes to us through compassionate and caring companions. We can cling to God and to one another until a bright light of hope and warm sense of peace may return once again.

Thank you for your companionship here.

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 NIV)

¹ https://www.cloisterseminars.org/ or https://almutfurchert.substack.com
* https://simplysoulsearching.com/2024/12/12/8-an-advent-among-other-things-peace-through-darkness/
Photo by Jim Wicker (thank you, Honey!)

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Along with Cloister Notes, here are a few other excellent resources I have found comforting–I hope they will comfort you, too:

Substack:
Chasing the Blue Flower with Laura Boggess (https://laurajboggess.substack.com),
Coming Down to Earth with Barbara Brown Taylor (https://barbarabrowntaylor.substack.com/)
A Gathering of Spirits with Carrie Newcomer (https://carrienewcomer.substack.com/)
and she has beautiful music (listen to “You Can Do This Hard Thing” and “Another Day”)

Especially for writers and readers:
Nooks and Crannies (https://mailesilva.substack.com/)
The Courage to Live It (https://shawnsmucker.substack.com/)

Podcast:
Life with God (https://renovare.org/podcast)