By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
The meaning of comfort intrigues me, especially with the stress so many people face each day. No point going into the many stressors bombarding us, or this post would be 6,000 words long. If you’re like me, we want to help others in a way that’s healthy and beneficial to them. Other times we want to be comforted when life tosses a curve ball.
Comfort means freedom from physical, mental, or spiritual pain. The concept soothes the weary, ushers in rest, and seems to lift the burden from our hearts and shoulders. Providing love and encouragement to someone who needs aid blesses them and us. Small things. Large things. Definitely a worthy gift for the recipient and giver.
Here are 20 thoughts.
- Comfort food
- Comfort zone
- Comforting aid
- Comforting embrace
- Comforting music
- Comforting story
- Comforting words
- Comfortable bed
- Comfortable car
- Comfortable chair
- Comfortable evening
- Comfortable fire
- Comfortable friend
- Comfortable home
- Comfortable hotel
- Comfortable jeans
- Comfortable pajamas
- Comfortable ride in the country
- Comfortable slippers
- Comfortable walk in the park
Here’s my challenge. While we can identify with the list above and add more ideas, how can we best offer comfort to someone else?
Comments 15
Comfort in knowing that two dear friends are healed and in heaven with Jesus.
Comfort in knowing that someday I will see them when I get to heaven.
Comfort in hugs from friends
Comfort from your books DiAnn Mills
Comfort that comes from God through prayer and His word
Comfort that no matter what comes; I’m in God’s hands
Nancy, your response reads like poetry. I’m sorry for your loss. Prayers for you sent.
True comfort comes from knowing Christ. Knowing we have a Savior to depend upon in good times and in bad. To be comforted by a Christian friend when trouble comes reminds us that we do have that hope in God. We are given the gift of comfort and peace so that we can also share with those who are dealing with hurts. “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 1:4)
Barbara, beautiful. Knowing Christ is our comfort and peace. Thank you!
I think I’ll be selfish on this one:))
When I miss the mark (I believe we call that sin) I go to 1 John 1:9. I confess, He forgives and cleanses me from all unrighteousness.
That comforts me with peace that passes all understanding.
Thank You LORD for being SO wonderful in your love, grace, kindness, compassion, mercy and FORGIVENESS. I bless and praise your Holy Name…in Jesus’ Name.
Vondia, you are not selfish! You are sharing the love of Christ, His forgiveness, and His love. Thank you!
I think I’ll be selfish on this one:))
When I “miss the mark” according to God’s Word (I believe we call that sin) I immediately go to 1John 1:9…..I confess, He forgives me and cleanses me from ALL unrighteousness. That comforts me with PEACE that passes all understanding.
I bless and thank You, Almighty God. How Wonderful you are:))
I think the best way we can offer comfort is to be with someone. Just sit quietly so that they know you are there. Respond if they talk; otherwise, be quiet. Sometimes, people just need to know that someone else is there.
Edwina, you are so right. Sometimes the best comfort is presence. Thank you!
I’ve found the best comfort I can give to anyone is to listen to them. I love the verse from James that says to “be quick to listen and slow to talk.”
Debbie, I love that too. And it takes practice!
By being a safe place and the arms of God. By praying with and for them.
This is a great question, but I pause at the idea that comfort is not always good. Sometimes we seek comfort to avoid growth or run into the arms of Satan, because as your list implies, some of those things are not good for us in the extreme, like food.
In BSF this past week we looked at the temptations of God. Satan was offering Jesus comfort and power, and we often get comfort from being in control. Jesus could have avoided the cross on his way to having the kingdoms of this world. He was, after all, fully man, and by taking Satan up on his offers, he would have had food (he was starving) and comfort and avoided the cross.
This is true of those who are in rebellion against God. Do we want them to be comfortable? Drill sergents in boot camp don’t try to make the soldiers comfortable. So I think we have to be careful with comfort. We may be getting in the way of the growth that God is doing in another.
I strive to give comfort where I can, and as a Christian am probably more prone to give it more freely than I should. But I think your question is valid, especially for authors. The temptation is to get our book out there, but do we really care about our audience… the individual reader, or is it all about us?
This Christian walk is soooo hard.
Patricia, your response is commendable! Thank you. Yes, we can slip in comfort and forget our best spiritual growth is through pain. I’ve been there and so have you. Comfort must come from our relationship with God and loving His people. So appreciate your wisdom.
I admit – you had me at the picture 🙂 There is such a need for comfort. Comfort to me is not necessarily the absence of pain but the awareness of presence. The presence of God and those who love me. I pray I am able to just be there for others.
Thank you Joanne, the words of wisdom from you and others in today’s post have filled me and those who read these responses with hope in the presence of God being our comfort.