He Comforts Us

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

I am not incompetent Cheryl thought to herself bitterly as she carried a small box of her personal belongings down the long hallway leading to the building exit. She fought back tears of humiliation as Mike the security guard escorted her to the car. After 25 years of living and breathing this place they pulled the rug out from beneath her and discarded her like a dirty rag. Cheryl admits that she made a few mistakes, but so did everyone else. She worked hard over the years and for what? How can she face her family and friends? How did she fail? Cheryl sat behind the steering wheel of her car paralyzed with anger and shame. What do I do now?  

Mike stood at the giant shred-it bin feeling lost and defeated. As he opened each file for one final look he saw his work life flash before him. He worked all night on some of these projects for which he received significant recognition and praise. He produced good work that saved the company millions and now someone else is rich because of it. He has been given sixty days notice of his termination of employment. The large company who bought the one he works for does not care about the work he did in the past. It isn’t relevant for their plans for the future and they no longer need his service. Sadly, he tosses file after file into the shed-it bin and wonders what he will do next.  

Catherine slowly pulled the squeaky door shut behind her thinking that her father must be looking down from heaven with great disappointment. Her dad started this business and she worked for him from the time she was 12 years old. The business was profitable and thriving when Dad turned the reigns over to her. Over the years the cost of materials  and labor escalated and the ability of consumers to buy things online from the large stores took away much of her walk-in business. She tried to use new technology but she simply could not compete and had to make the decision to close the store. “What will I do now?” she asks out loud looking up at the cloudy sky.  

John 14:27

 ²⁷ “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” 

We live in troubling and changing times. Losing a job or a business definitely creates  financial loss.  Even more devastating is the personal loss we experience because we tend to attribute much of our personal value and self-worth to the work we perform and our material possessions. It is during this time of loss that only Jesus can give us the gift of true peace.  It is a peace that cannot be found here on earth.  

Once we accept His gift we will be able to move forward to the new work God has prepared for each of us long ago. We only need to open our hearts to God’s grace, acknowledge him and he will deliver us to even greater opportunities. 

We are more precious to God than anything else in this world and he will hold tight onto each one of us as cherished children and guide us safely through the storm.  All we have to do is pray, let go and trust in Him. 

Isaiah 41:10

10Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.