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.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. . . There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18.
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Isaiah 40:1.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God says:
Why do you hold Me so far away? As long as you think you have to do things alone you are pushing Me away. Include Me in everything. Draw close to Me. You can be comfortable with Me. I am the God of all comfort.
Most people are not comfortable with Me. They cannot just rest in My shade. They have to be busy doing something for Me. They do not work with Me. They are trying to be acceptable in My sight. They do not truly communicate with Me. If you are talking more about Me than to Me, you have not drawn close to Me.
And there are also those who are not comfortable with Me because they do not know Me and they are fearful that I may not answer their prayers and, even worse, that I will not only not give them what they are requesting but will instead send them greater sufferings. They are not motivated to please Me, but perceive Me as arbitrary and unreliable as far as concerns their needs.
What they do not know is that you are the apple of My eye. You are precious in My eyes. I am not looking at you with eyes of justice but with eyes of love and compassion. I give good things to those who ask Me.
I know how you are formed, I remember that you are dust. My Son sympathizes with your weaknesses for He was tempted in every way you are but never sinned. But if you have sinned, feel comfortable to run to Me and repent for I have provided you with the antidote to sin. It is the precious Blood of My Son and that Blood cleanses everything horrible anyone has ever done or will do. Your sins may be red as crimson but I make them white as snow. When you repent and confess your sins to Me, I am faithful and true to forgive you of all sin and cleanse you of all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9.
It is when people do not understand how I love them that they are not comfortable with Me because they are fearful I will not come through for them. I love you and you are precious in My eyes. You are holy and blameless in My sight in Jesus. I delight to be with you. No one who comes to Me do I ever reject. I invite you to come to Me and rest in My everlasting arms. Draw life giving water at the fountain of salvation with joy. Isaiah 12.
I love you so much I gave you My only begotten Son so that you would not perish but have eternal life. Will I not freely give you all things good besides?
Know Me. I am good. Taste and see My goodness.
If you are weary and find life burdensome come to Me and let Me refresh you. Do not fear for I am with you. I am for you, not against you. There is no condemnation for those are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1. You are reconciled with Me and you are free from sin and darkness. I give you My peace. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not fear.
Do not be so worried that you have offended Me or not exactly done My Will. If you have a heart inclined to Me and it is your desire to please Me, you are pleasing Me. Do not make your religion a burden because you are not comfortable with Me. You are accepted by Me in the Beloved. Do not try to prove to Me that you are acceptable in My eyes. If you have taken Jesus as your LORD then you are clothed in Christ and He is in you by My Holy Spirit. And when I look at Christ, My beloved Son, I am well pleased. And I see you the same way, as My beloved.
You are My masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus, for the life of good deeds I have prepared for you in advance. Ephesians 2:10. My purposes I have for you are plans for you of peace and prosperity, not disaster and woe, a future filled with hope. Jeremiah 11:29. You can be comfortable with Me. I am seeking your best interests. I am there for you. I am your healer, your provider, your fortress, your shield, your deliverer, your Father, your Shepherd, your Righteousness, your holiness, your lover, your friend, and your creator. Rest assured that I am not mad at you and that I delight in doing good to you. When you are in Christ all of your sins were judged, condemned and punished on Him so that there is no condemnation now for those in Christ Jesus. He became sin without ever sinning and you became righteous in Him without doing anything righteous.
I am your God. And you are Mine. And I take care of you when you are Mine.
But you must understand My ways. To have the good things I have freely given you in Christ—and it has pleased Me to give you My Kingdom—you must take them by faith. You cannot doubt that I will come through for you. You must believe in My goodness. You must believe that I reward those who seek Me. You must believe that when you come to Me with a request that lines up with My Covenant promises to you that you have it as soon as you ask. I watch over My Word to perform it and it will come to pass in your life if you do not give up and cast away your confidence. There are often other factors, but My Word will prove true.
Be comfortable with that.
And when you are hurt or feel downcast call upon Me to comfort you. My servant Paul knew Me as the God of all comfort. He understood that when he felt fearful and lonely I would send him comfort. I would send him people who supported him and comforted him. I would open up doors of escape for him and deliver him out of his trials. I would restore his joy. I would send him My Word to heal him.
He knew Me in whom he had believed—that I was a good God who cared for him and would never leave him or forsake him. He knew that he was acceptable to Me and precious to Me. He prayed that you too would begin to know the height, depth, breadth, and length of My great love for you that surpasses all understanding. And he knew that nothing could ever separate him from My love.
No matter where you go, I am there, and I have hold of your hand. And your name is written in the palm of My Hand. There is no snatching out of My Hand.
Can a mother forget her infant? Even if she should, I will never forget you. I am with you always.
My servant Peter knew Me as I am too. He told you to cast all your cares on Me because I care for you. He told you that after you had suffered a little while I would Myself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
I never let you be tested beyond your strength. I provide you with a way out. And I make all things work together for the good of those who love Me and are called according to My purpose.
Take comfort in Me. Draw strength from Me. Lean on Me. Rest in Me. Enter My rest. And the only way you enter is by faith. And faith works by love. Knowledge of My Love for you. And that makes you love. And all good things return from love.
I love you. My banner over you is love and perfect love casts out all fear. You can be comfortable with Me. I know you, I know when you sit and when you stand, I know what you are going to say before you say it, with all your ways I am familiar, and I see your heart. You can be your true self with Me and rest in the peace of My love and grace.