And who can comfort like Him? Visit a weary, discouraged child of God—speak gentle promises, whisper words of hope into his ear—and yet, he may remain unmoved, like a deaf adder that refuses the voice of the charmer, no matter how skillfully spoken. His soul is drinking bitterness, and though you try to console him, all you may hear is a faint sigh of resignation. No songs of praise, no hallelujahs, no joyful hymns will rise from his lips.
But let God Himself draw near to His child—let His face shine upon him—and suddenly the mourner’s eyes sparkle with hope. Do you hear him sing?
“It’s paradise if You are here;
If You depart, it is hell.”
You could not have cheered him, but the Lord has done it. Truly, “He is the God of all comfort.” There may be no healing balm in Gilead, but there is balm in God. No earthly physician can help, but the Creator is Jehovah-Rophi, the Lord who heals.
It’s amazing how one simple word from God can blossom into whole songs of praise for His people. A single promise is like a piece of gold, and the believer is the goldsmith, hammering it out into weeks of joy.
So, dear Christian, don’t sit in despair. Go to the Comforter and ask Him to pour His consolation into your heart. You may feel like a dry well. You’ve heard it said that when a pump is dry, you must first pour water into it before it flows again. In the same way, when your spirit feels empty, go to God—ask Him to spread His joy within you—and your joy will overflow.
Don’t lean on earthly friends, for they may prove to be like Job’s comforters. Instead, go first and foremost to your “God, who comforts the downcast,” and soon you will be able to say: “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.”