LifeDate Fall 2024 – Hope and a Future
by Virginia J. Flo, Director of Volunteer Relations
“He comforts us whenever we suffer. That is why whenever other people suffer, we are able to comfort them by using the same comfort we have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:4).
Knowing that God has a plan for us and that He watches over us is very comforting—until things go wrong in life. That’s not how we planned it. When we experience life-changing events, God is still there for us to lift us up and heal our broken hearts because He loves us. His ultimate source of comfort was sending Jesus to save us and bring us the hope of eternal life. In the meantime, we live in this sinful world—and things happen. God calls on us to help others, through our own experiences, and bring them hope.
How far do you plan ahead? Do you have a personal calendar that you keep up to date with all the things in your life for months down the road, or are you a day-by-day or hour-by-hour person, making the most of each day as it arrives? I doubt anyone is totally day-by-day, as there are certain things in our lives that require planning, such as weekly worship, doctor appointments, and family gatherings. Yet, that doesn’t mean that most of your life isn’t a “play it by ear” or “take it as it comes” situation.
There are things that can force us to plan, but even at that, we can put them off as long as possible. Sometimes my schedule gets away from me and things can turn chaotic, especially if I am traveling and away from home. Perhaps you can relate, especially if others in your life depend on you and their needs can affect your personal plans.
Even the best laid plans can be upset by unexpected surprises. It’s that call that a family member or friend has gone to be with the Lord. It’s that meeting with the doctor who shares the news that you or a loved one has a serious health issue that needs to be addressed immediately. It’s that change in your job status that you did not expect or plan. Perhaps a family member woke up ill, and you now need to fill in or stay home to care for them. I’m certain you can add to this list!
Hopefully, you have people in your life at home, church, or through your friendships who will be there for you when you need help, who can relate and provide empathy and support. Paul shares a great message in 2 Corinthians 1:4 (see above). What a hopeful message for each of us. God provides comfort through our own suffering and experiences. Then He equips us to be able to comfort others through our own experience. No one should ever feel alone or abandoned by the Church as we have been equipped to provide care, comfort, and hope for all we serve.
When life isn’t going as planned or things take a turn for the worse, we can all feel helpless. Yet, these are the very times that God uses us to be hands-on for Him by being there for others. This is especially true when you have yourself had personal struggles and have come through them because of God’s comforting words and our fellow Christians’ loving care. (Providing comfort can be the most necessary and needed treatment for people.)
Sometimes it’s as simple as just being there with a hurting person to remove some of the loneliness people in crisis can experience. Sometimes it’s sharing a meal at a time when someone in distress is suffering, and making food is of little significance for them and often skipped. It might just be a phone call asking, “How are you?” that brings hope to someone’s day. Sharing God’s words of comfort is what someone needs to hear. For we know, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). We may not be trained healers, but we have been trained through our own experiences and God’s Word to bring comfort.
Be brave, reach out, and know the Lord is by your side. Pray for His guidance in what you say and do so you will bring needed comfort. We have a message of hope!