Comfort

Yesterday morning at this time was definitely a low in my parenting experience. Ar’Mircle and Jade sleep in the same room and our goal is for them to sleep from 7pm to 7am. When I’m home, my job is to get them going in the morning so Casey has some extra sleep. If I’m not up by 6, then I can kiss my Quiet Time goodbye, which for some reason makes me grumpier than it ought to!

Two days ago, Ar’Mircle was not on a great schedule and did not eat as much as she really needed. Thus, she woke up around 5am, making her needs known with her usual loud cries. I decided to follow our suboptimal protocol in hopes that we could salvage some sleep, so I gave her a bottle and changed her diaper. She actually went down pretty well. Jade usually sleeps through this, but had some sort of earache or tummyache, and so she woke up and things went south from there.

I can’t say we handled the situation well and we will need to get a lot of advice on what to do in the future. It’s always hard when you know your kids are exasperated or very close to it. Jade basically got herself so worked up she couldn’t breathe properly. Looking back, it was a very long fit that lasted over an hour. We knew she needed a lot more sleep and we had a huge day ahead of us so we were trying to get her back to sleep. However, we eventually let her up. I prayed a nice long prayer in the bright lights of the kitchen with her about happy thoughts and good things from God and asked him to comfort her. That did the trick and she was able to do a “mind change” and revert back to being the happy, joyful, delightful little girl that I know.

Throughout this episode, I just wanted Jade to let us comfort her. I even told her that her job was not to talk, but to sit still and snuggle with us and let us calm her down. Instead, she kept trying to fidget, complain about her physical discomforts, and negotiate about HOW she wanted to get comforted (see Ps. 77:1-2).

This really got me thinking about the topic of “comfort” and whether or not I let God comfort me. I also felt very convicted that I ought to have prayed way sooner with her and as long as it took for her to get her mind on God and off of her problems. I’m determined to handle such situations differently in the future. This morning, I decided to look at some scriptures on “comfort” and “hope” and what God wants in my relationship with him.

What God Wants to Do
Is 40:1-2 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

Isaiah 51:12 "I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass,

Isaiah 66:13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

False Sources of Comfort and Wrong Attitudes
I’m particularly tempted to turn to extra sleep if I have a bad day or am feeling depressed. But it’s definitely not the answer—Jesus is… On the other hand, the story of 1 Kings 19:1-9 tells us that God understands our physical needs.

Job 7:13-15
When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint, even then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions, so that I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine.

Another temptation for me is to solve my problems myself and in my own way. Being self-sufficient and responsible isn’t a bad thing. However, I love to be able to be of assistance to my daughters and I know God feels the same about me. It’s always more fun and relationally satisfying to accomplish something together rather than showing of what you did by yourself.

Jeremiah 17:5 This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

Psalm 33:17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.

Here’s the scripture that reminded me of Jade refusing to be comforted. At least this guy is going to God and being honest about his feelings, but he is too agitated to receive the gift of comfort that God wants to offer him.

Ps 77:1-2
I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted.

Having the right attitude toward God
When I’m in the right spiritual “zone,” I am simply one of the sheep in God’s flock. I have no concerns or worries because the Good Shepherd is watching after me.

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 119:76 May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.

Isaiah 52:9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.

Here is a key scripture for my parenting. Jesus asked his disciples to trust him and in that trust they were trusting God. In the same way, I am asking my kids to first put their trust in God overall, but then to trust Casey and me in the everyday and in so doing they will be trusting God.

John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

As part of the body of Christ, we can receive comfort from one another. Of course, we first want to turn to God, but oftentimes God puts people in our lives to meet our needs.

2 Corinthians 7:6-7 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

Psalm 25:5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Sometimes you just have to tell yourself what is the right attitude to have. I love the Psalms and their total honesty and openness about feelings and attitudes.

Psalm 42:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and

The Bible is where I gain a great deal of comfort and hope. Sometimes we have to search the scriptures to find the right one for a particular situation. Asking other disciples for a scripture is also beneficial.

Psalm 119:82 My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, "When will you comfort me?"

Psalm 119:52 I remember your ancient laws, O LORD, and I find comfort in them.

Psalm 119:114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.