Comfort and Joy
"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God." Isaiah 40:1 (NIV)
I am my Mother's daughter.
Whenever I get deeply troubled or grieved, I cook. That may seem strange to most of you, but as a child I knew instantly if Mama was upset. Coming home from school, if our kitchen counters were lined with cakes and pies, my siblings and I knew Mama was working through something. Ultimately most of Mama's goodies would wind up with friends or neighbors. Both Mama and her recipients were blessed by her efforts. With my Granny and Bruce's Mee-Maw, their therapy of choice was quilting. Sixty years later we are still enjoying the fruit of their labors.
Saturday my heart was troubled and my Christmas preparation "to do" list was long. Bruce took James Bruce out for a last minute shopping trip and I had the house to myself. I turned off Hallmark Christmas movies with their guaranteed happily-ever-after endings and turned on my Sonos. Selecting a station with good Christmas carols, I turned up the volume, and began cooking. As I cooked, I prayed for:
a friend whose special needs son is hospitalized over Christmas with a life threatening illness
loved ones who just suffered a great personal loss
a next door neighbor who died alone Saturday afternoon, still estranged from her only child and grandchildren
Mama's growing dementia and the difficult family decisions that accompany
salvation for many of the children represented in our adult Sunday School community
my inability to "fix" any of the above
Throughout the day as I kept my hands busy and my mind engaged in prayer, not only did my kitchen counters fill with the fruits of my labor, but my heart also quieted and became less anxious. When the lyrics of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen played, the song literally brought "tidings of comfort and joy" as I remembered the prophet Isaiah's words, "Comfort, comfort my people." (Isaiah 40:1) Comfort is not the same as comfortable. My circumstances and those for whom I prayed didn't change, but my heart did. The churning and burning ceased. Once again, Jesus spoke peace to the winds and waves of anxiety and God, by His grace, slowly brought me to acceptance. Elisabeth Elliot was right when she wrote, "Acceptance brings peace."
Wherever we are today, God's Word and His Spirit can give us comfort for whatever circumstances we face. Right before his death, Jesus promised, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world." And that is the good news of the Gospel: Jesus has overcome the world and the trouble that comes with it.
"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord!" (Luke 2:10-11)
Good news of comfort and joy- Merry Christmas!