How Do I Prepare For Hurt and Heartache?

One of the purposes of the gospel is to give me comfort. 

• In Romans 15:4 we read that the Bible is not only meant to instruct us, 
• but also to encourage and comfort us by giving us hope. 
• “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, 
• that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” 
• The Bible is therefore a book of comfort. 

How do I define “comfort?” 

• Comfort is the peace of mind that arises out of God’s promised mercy, 
• which eases fear, anxiety and sorrow. 

What causes this fear in me? 

• What arouses this anxiety? 
• From where does this sorrow arise? 
• From my fall into sin! 
• My sin arouses the wrath of my holy and jealous God. 
• And the consuming wrath of God makes me tremble in fear. 

Furthermore, my sin is punished with God’s curse. 

• And the effects of this curse, such as pain, sickness and death, 
• all give birth to sorrow. 

Comfort arises from the mercy of God. 

• That is clear from Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1:3, 
• where Paul describes God as “the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.” 
• The only source of comfort lies in the mercy of God which He has shown to us in Christ Jesus. 

What is my only comfort?

• There is no other comfort than that which comes from my gracious God, 
• through the forgiveness of my sins and the righteousness of Christ. 

In Isaiah 40:1, I read 

• “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” says your God. 
• “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, 
• that her warfare is ended, 
• that her iniquity is pardoned.” 

Israel’s comfort was based on God’s promise 

• that her punishment would come to an end, 
• because God would pardon her sins.

Adapted Excerpt From Only By True Faith by Van Delden