The Comfort of Kindness

Once again God has “..brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,...”  Psalm 40:2

The “miry clay” is healing on my head and I am so thankful for His hand that reaches down into the pit of our pain! 

Last night I was thinking of Jesus’ words to His disciples right before His arrest and crucifixion. On the eve that He was about to experience the most intense suffering, Jesus was deeply concerned about His friends.

He told them not to be troubled, that He was going to prepare a place for them. He encouraged that by informing them it was actually to their advantage that He went away because when He did, He would send them the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is incomparable. WIthout Him, we would never be drawn to God or empowered and equipped to live for Him.

But what kept coming to mind for me, was that Jesus referred to Him as “the Comforter.”

We live in an uncomfortable world. In fact, I think many pursuits are born to escape that reality.

When Jesus walked the earth, His touch healed and soothed. He words encouraged and gave strength to the weak.

Now, the Spirit faithfully does the same in each one that belongs to the Father.

So gentle and steady is His Comfort, that we often don’t perceive it until we realize through the smell of smoke, that we are standing unscorched by the flames.

Amazing. 

Among the fruit of the Spirit, is an often overlooked slice called kindness.

Kindness has the ability to take a difficult hour, a hard day or an uncomfortable season and make it better by simple and genuine actions.

There were those who soothed the rough edges of this last week for me that made a huge difference by their acts of kindness.

From the doctor, who with dignity helped me with my condition and showed me practical measures in a reassuring manner, to my sweet mom who put lotion on my dry skin, to friends who brought us food and more. Kindness has made this time bearable, In fact it too, has been a hand up out of the pit to grab hold of His strong arm.

Desiring to honor his friend’s legacy, King David in 2 Samuel 9:2 says, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

A servant informs him that, yes there was one of Jonathan’ sons left. A young man named Mephibosheth, who was lame in both of his feet.

The king sends for him to come to his palace and appoints him a special place at his table for the rest of his life.

I think it’s safe to say that there are those around you and I who are having difficulty running the race of faith today. Those whose spiritual feet need strengthening and maybe even a hand up to recover from a fall.

May we all take those opportunities to show the kindness of our God and bring comfort to those who need it. You may never know the difference you made, but the recipient of your gift will....and so will your God.

 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 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.”  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

• I meet with the doctors tomorrow. We are praying I would be able to go back on the medication at a lower dosage without the severity of the side effects...:)

Love to you!