God of All Comfort

Scotty Smith:  A Prayer for Days When You Have the Blahs and Blues

For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. 2 Cor. 7:5-6

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.1Thess 5:11

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matt. 11:28

Gracious Father, the incidental pictures in the Scriptures are often as profound as the intentional promises. I’m thankful for this picture of a conflicted Paul being comforted by a good friend. For there are many of us begin today feeling very much on the blahs-and-blues side of things.

Thank you for reminding us that even your most faithful servants—those who know you so well, those who grasp the gospel a zillion times better than us—even these men and women experience feelings of being overwhelmed, “fried” and weary.

Free us from those lingering notions (the myth) of omni-competence. If we just prayed enough, believed enough, or was filled with the Spirit enough, we would never get discouraged or downcast. What a groundless lie. What a horrible burden. What a humorless joke.

Thank you for comforting us when we’re downcast. You don’t deride us, chide us, or hide from us; you comfort us. You’re “the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). And thank you for the comforters you send us. Though you’re quite capable of sending ravens and rainbows, and manna and miracles, more often than not you send a Titus to a Paul (2 Cor. 7:6) or a Phoebe to a Paul (Rom. 16:1). You love to show your kindness for your people through your people.

Father, on this gorgeous last-day-of-May morning, we’ll wait upon you for bread from heaven, living water and grace-shaped comfort. Help us stay honest about our weariness, expectant of your comfort, and thankful for whomever you send to us.

And keep us sensitive to the needs of others around us. We may be more helpful to them in our state of funk, than when we feel “together” and “on top of our game.” When we’re weak, we offer the aroma of grace most readily. By the Holy Spirit, point us toward other weary travelers who need a gentle word of comfort, perspective, and hope. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ compassionate name.