GOD, Our Comforter 

Isaiah 51:12

'“I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, '

Billy Graham writes in his daily devotion, "There is also comfort in mourning, because in the midst of mourning God gives a song. His presence in our lives changes our mourning into song, and that song is a song of comfort."¹

East Tennessee was hit by hurricane Helene on September 27th, 2024. A place where there hadn't been a flood of any real proportion since 1940. Hurricane Ivan brought some flooding, but nothing like what happened when Helene roared through. 

Steve & Lisa shared how they were just barely able to slam the door behind them, running uphill along the jeep trail till they were up high and out of breath. They turned and watched as the raging torrent lifted their house off its foundation and rammed it into the bridge downstream, into the trees, into the rocks, the crumbling banks of the once trickling creek; how they witnessed their ordinary but precious belongings splinter into crumpled clumps of soggy, matted debris, disappearing into the liquid rivulets spilling over into the forest, over the utility poles, over the rise and gone.

Standing on that gound of red clay five months later, they spoke to me of the precious grace of our loving savior. Lisa commented, "I had been taking time to clean out since last summer, making little crafts and things from our inventory of antiques to give away. God wanted me to give back for the years he has blessed us. All that is gone now. I guess God didn't think I was moving fast enough for what he wants to do with our lives. Now I don't have to worry about all that stuff. It's brought us closer to the Lord and to each other as we face this new chapter."

God's comfort can actually make us smile in the midst of loss. That old chorus comes to mind. "Oh how He loves you and me; He gave his life what more could he give? Oh how he loves you and me!"

The hope and joy we have in God's faithfulness can hardly be extinguished no matter what evil conspires to destroy! I want to live in that joy, instead of the plastic, counterfeit being propagated by the world. 

Prayer

Lord, today and every day, may my joy be in You, looking forward to Your Kindgon of Peace. And may I live in such a way as to spread that joy to others. 

Amen!

¹ Billy Graham. Day By Day with Billy Graham, Day 58. Accessed through You Version Bible App, February 27, 2025.