Comfort in Trials

Jeff Stauffer

Jeff works and lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. As a husband, father, grandfather and friend, Jeff's goal is to extend God's loving kindness and truth to others. 

In Richard Foster's timeless book, Celebration of Discipline, he opened with these challenging words, "Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem." That was in 1978!

I would argue that, almost 50 years later, instant satisfaction is still a major spiritual problem. Our culture, both inside and outside the Church, is bent on avoidance of pain, inconvenience, and discomfort.

Almost four years ago, when I confessed my sin to my wife, Joanna, we entered a dark period with no quick fix options available. A lifetime of sin, isolation, loneliness, and shame had left me a husk of a man. Being betrayed by the one who should have protected, honoured and cherished her, my wife found herself in a raging tempest. But, I think, being faced with such a problem actually helped us in following Christ. Everywhere we looked we were told "two to five years" for healing. There were no shortcuts. There where no quick fixes. All we could do was to turn to God and journey with him, through the storm.

My old way of thinking was that I pray, and then God should make it all good. But Scripture says that God "works all things" (Ephesians 1:11 ESV).

Jesus said it this way in John 16:33 (NLT), "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me." This was on the night he was betrayed. He had just finished eating the Last Supper with his disciples and as we read later on this was a time of great anguish for Jesus. He was entering the greatest trial anyone has ever endured. The preceding conversation with his disciples was around the trials that would be coming to them in the following months and years.

Then he said "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows."

I don't know about you, but telling me that I will have many trials and sorrows (other translations call them tribulations) doesn't seem like a normal path to peace.

But then Jesus finished with this, "But take heart, because I have overcome the world." Jesus promised that he would never abandon us. He sent the Holy Spirit to walk with us. He is leading, teaching, counselling, comforting, and empowering us.

We need to be okay with a process. And since the process is with God, why do we want to skip it?

Probably the same reason we turn to sin - we're looking to be comfortable.

But, what better place can there be than to be with God?

Think of your favourite meal. That juicy steak, the crisp salad, a flavourful saucy pasta, or a spicy taco. The anticipation of the meal to come intensified by the presentation on the plate, the sensation of those flavours hitting your taste buds, the aroma of the food entering your nose, the sounds of food and fork dancing in your ears. Now, is the best part of the meal after you eat it? When you are full and cannot ever remember being hungry? Yeah, there can be satisfaction after dinner, but would you agree that the greater joy is found in the eating (the partaking) of the meal?

In Psalms 23:5 we are told that our God prepares a table (for feasting) when we are surrounded by our enemies. It is there that our cup overflows and when he anoints us with oil. If we never go through the dark and scary valley we will starve!

What if we could live in such a way that the Holy Spirit's presence and his guidance through the trial would give us more comfort than a mere absence of trials and sorrows?

If you're going through a trial right now, turn to God. He has a meal for you to enjoy. He has comfort and guidance for you. In him you will find the hope, peace, and joy that you are looking for. Let's pray this together:

God, I feel so alone right now. It's scary and everything seems dark around me. But I trust that you are good. Holy Spirit, please let me feel your presence right now and to hear your voice guiding me. Jesus, you are my Lord and Savior. I choose to put my trust in you. Thank you, God, for not abandoning me in this life. In Jesus' name, amen.