“But for me, it is good to be near God.” (Psalm 73:28a TLV).
At Sukkot, we celebrate not only God’s presence with the Israelites in the wilderness, but also his presence with us today as His Holy Spirit dwells in all who have professed faith in Messiah Yeshua.
The Lord Almighty is also the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). He is always present, and, with His presence, He provides us His deep comfort. The Messianic prophecy found in Isaiah 53:3 tells us that Yeshua (Jesus) was a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Yeshua walked this sin-scarred earth, and He knows the human heart’s need for comfort amid suffering.
In the midst of suffering, we may think that the only effective comfort would be for the pain to go away, the situation to resolve or the hardship to ease. But in the same way He gives us joy, God offers us comfort that extends beyond our circumstances. And He never leaves us without access to His deep love and comfort.
The Bible tells us that there is abundant comfort through Messiah (2 Corinthians 1:5). God comforts the depressed (2 Corinthians 7:6) and the afflicted (2 Corinthians 1:4). His consolations, guidance and protection comfort the soul (Psalm 94:19, Psalm 23:4).
How has God’s presence comforted you in times past? How can He bring you comfort today?
Shout for joy, heavens! Rejoice, earth! Break forth into ringing shouts, O mountains! For Adonai has comforted His people and has compassion on His afflicted” (Isaiah 49:13 TLV).
