Given what we know about the havoc hurricanes can leave, our insides start screaming for protection long before the storm arrives. Recently, I pulled up The Weather Channel app and the first image that popped on the screen was “the cone of uncertainty.” It’s used to describe where the eye of the storm could possibly travel.
That phrase can make our hair stand on the back of our neck while hearing it alongside the negative possibilities of a future storm. While there may be a cone of uncertainty from hurricanes, we can be certain that our God is trustworthy!
The Easiest Ways to Lose Comfort
The Bible states that the righteous have troubles and afflictions (Psalm 34:17). The sinner does too, but the righteous have the Lord’s promise that He will deliver us out of them all. Yet we seem to lack His comfort if:
- We blame God. Perhaps we take a circumstance as a punishment from Him and then subconsciously refuse to allow Him to comfort and help us. Maybe we see Father God as the unrelenting judge. But we are duped by lies when we blame Him for tragedy. It’s the devil that comes to steal, kill, and destroy, not God. When God created the earth, He said it was good. When sin entered, it affected everything, including nature.
- We forget. Have you ever experienced the Domino Effect? Like “It’s just one thing after another…” The first thing we look for is comfort. Comfort can be found from certain people who have brought comfort to us in the past. Sometimes when we find ourselves entangled in a hardship, we find it easy to run to our closest friends for consolation and forget all about our God of all Comfort. People are helpful but don’t leave God out.
- We don’t believe. Maybe we think God doesn’t want to help us because He’s too busy taking care of other people’s problems—especially ones that are worse than ours. Or we think it’s our effort, rather than His power, that does miracles. Or we think His standard is so high that we can never operate in the authority He’s given us as His children.
Sometimes we allow our relationship with Him to be the most uncomfortable part of our lives. Let’s not live like that!
The Goodness in Our Affliction
Paul went through some rough times of hardship and peril, but he experienced God’s comfort during those troublesome realities and testifies that God comforts us in all our affliction, too.
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 affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV (emphasis mine)
I’ve been refreshed looking at the first several verses of 2 Corinthians chapter 1 and it’s comforting to know that Paul understands because he’s been there. Look at what he says. Specifically, notice the bolded:
For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God WHO RAISES THE DEAD. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 ESV (emphasis mine)
Discouragement, fear, or despair will try to creep in along with negative reports or circumstances but don’t let it. Let’s trust in the resurrecting power of God!
The Divine Protection God Gives
One way we can rely on God is by believing in His promises. That doesn’t mean we won’t have troubles, but that He will keep us safe during them.
Check out these promises of divine protection from the Word of God. Tell me if you aren’t comforted after reading them:
- The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. Psalm 34:7 (NASB)
- God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Psalm 46:1b-3 (ESV)
- Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. Psalm 91:14-16 (ESV) - He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Psalm 107:20 (ESV)
- The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121:8 (ESV)
- The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18 (ESV)
- Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30:5 (ESV)
The Call to Pray God’s Promises
When we declare the promises found in the Word, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is activated in us and applied to our situation. That might sound crazy but God said we are a peculiar people. And that doesn’t mean we have to be weird to be under His authority. Let’s pray these seven promises. He will not leave us comfortless!
Check out these promises of divine protection from the Word of God and receive comfort. Click To TweetLike this post? Please share it!
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I love all these verses that God has given to us as promises. Psalms 46, and 91 are very comforting in the darkest times of our life. When things go wrong, we often go the easy route and blame God , Instead of being comforted by His promises
Blessings
Diana
It’s great to see you here, Diana! Yes, and I hope we will focus on His promises and let Him lift our spirits.
During the times when we most need the comfort of the Word of God, we can easily be tempted to turn away as if our situation has taken God by surprise and He has not addressed it anywhere. Thanks for this reminder that there is all-purpose and yet very specific comfort to be found in the Words of the God who loves us.
Yes, so thankful for these promises. I’ve been going back to them again and again.
Kelly- I’m so glad that no matter what, God is with me. What’s been happening lately is scary, but the peace from God envelopes me in whatever is happening!
Thanks for the encouragement and wisdom!
Visiting from #RaraLinkup
I feel for the people who don’t know God because they don’t have a lasting refuge like we do. I’m praying for hearts to be opened to the gospel during these weather-related hard times.
Kelly, I enjoyed your words of comfort and inspiration. I’m visiting as your ‘neighbor’ from Coffe For Your Heart.
So glad to have you land on my site today, Kathleen! Welcome and nice to meet you!
I love your thoughts here, Kelly, and feel very encouraged by them, since I’ve been in a discouraged space lately. And 2 Cor. 1:8-9 is a passage that I hold dear and look to whenever I’m discouraged or share with others when they face the inevitable struggles of life. It’s so good to know that the Apostle Paul experienced those same feelings and yet was able to endure so much more than I’ve ever faced in life. Thanks for these reminders, my friend! I love your heart to encourage!
I’m so blessed to hear it encouraged you today, my friend! Hugs!
Kelly this is lovely, it’s always great to remember God’s promises to us. I often remember a study I did on the promises of God and it still lifts me up when negative thoughts bring me down. Thank you for sharing your heart.
Marissa
That’s awesome, Marissa! God’s promises have come through for me so many times that going back to those memories helps me stand when life feels uncertain. Glad you joined us and it’s a pleasure to meet you!
These are amazing verses! Psalm 91 especially has always been one of my favourites. In the uncertainty of life we definitely need these reminders to hold on to the certainty of God’s promises.
Yes and amen, Lesley! Many blessings!
Kelly, Thanks for sharing this very edifying post and these comforting promises from the Word of God.
Every promise is yes and Amen in Jesus. Praise God!
Great to see you here again, Karen! Ha! Just said yes and amen and you did, too! That’s another wonderful verse. 😉
I think that we get disappointed with God mainly because we assume that He would do something that He never promised… like keep us from experiencing difficulty, hardship or heartache. Jesus said the exact opposite… “in this world you WILL HAVE TROUBLE, but take heart. I have overcome the world.” Our promise from Him is not that we won’t experience loss and pain, but that even when we do, if we trust Him, it won’t have the final word in our lives. Thanks for your post!
You’re right, Karen! And I love that “it won’t have the final word.” Amen!
Popping in here again to tell you:
I wanted to let you know I nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award over at https://unmaskingthemess.com/2017/09/14/blogger-recognition-award/
Please do not feel obligated to do a thing. You are a great writer and encourager for me and I thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to let others know about your website.
💛💛💛
Oh Kelly- these verses on comfort popped up in a devo my prayer partner and I read from this morning… love a divine confirmation 🙂 And thanks for the reminder that it’s far more beneficial to run to God than any human when comforting is what we crave. ♥
Awesome! I love it when God does that. 🙂
Such beautiful promises. And so very comforting, too. Our testimonies of the trials in life and how God works in us (and through us, eventually) are so humbling, aren’t they? Thank you for sharing, Kelly. I’m so sorry you’re not sleeping well. That’s so hard. Praying for you, friend. So glad you’re going to get away for some rest time soon. ((xoxo))
How I appreciate those prayers!! Many blessings, my friend!
Praise God for His comfort and peace! I love these verses, and have learned to declare His promises over my life and over every situation I face. I am so thankful that the One who raised Christ from the dead is also able to resurrect life, peace and joy within our souls!
Amen, Christin! So glad to see you here again. I’ve had one of your posts opened on a tab on my computer for a few days. You’ve been on my mind lately. Haven’t gotten to read it yet but clicking over now. 🙂
This is a great collection of encouraging verses to calm and refresh!