“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
Gracious Father, thank you—thank you that the Gospel frees us to be more human, not less. If the Apostle Paul could be restless, weary, and downcast—spent from outside conflicts and nagging inner fears, so can we. Hallelujah, the Gospel puts an end to all posing and pretending.
Some of us are sitting in unexpected life changes, others are singing “the denominational blues,” others are riding the emotional rollercoaster of relationships that are predictably unpredictable, others are exhausted by long term care or ministry wear-and-tear, others have a backlog of sadness that is breaking into the present, others are …. well, Abba, you know the specifics for each of us.
Father, thank you for comforting us when we have the blues, blahs, brokenness, and befuddlement. You don’t roll your eyes at us; you keep your eye on us just like you do sparrows (Matt.6:26). You are “the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3).
Though you’ve been known to send ravens and rainbows, manna from the sky and Jesus on the waves, more often you send a Titus or a Phoebe just when we need them (2Cor.7:6; Rom.16:1). Abba, thank you for our burden-bearing, ache-understanding, and heart-encouraging friends.
Thank you for those who listen without fixing—who give heaven-timed presence without ill-timed advice. Make us more like them. Indeed, even as you care for us, to whom would you send us today? Which friends need a call, a hug, a text—a cup of coffee and an unrushed visit? Thank you for setting the expiration date for all-things-broken and for securing the Day of all-things-new. Thank you and So Very Amen.
