The God of All Comfort

Hi Friends,

We serve an amazing God!  Jesus is wonderful. He said that he would send the comforter to us, who would lead us into all truth.  We are blessed to know him, and to receive his comfort.

That is what I am writing about today. How the Lord comforts us, his mercies are new every morning!

Almost two weeks ago, I was experiencing problems in a relationship.  ‘There is no way of escaping problems when we live in a fallen world. Even Jesus who was perfect, had his share of relational conflicts. No two of us are alike.  We don’t think alike. We do not have identical values, nor do we appreciate or do the same things. Jesus made this statement, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

Sometimes we feel rejected, or misunderstood.  Often we attempt to resolve conflicts, by asking for forgiveness, or to explain our motives. But if the other person is unwilling to forgive, or holds a grudge,  the situation only worsens. Resentment becomes a bitter root. It is usually within families that there are conflicts. One person may take advantage of another, or fail to keep his or her promises.  Sometimes there are sins and behavioral issues that bring hateful speech, or violence. Some have difficulty taking responsibility for their actions. Some are unwilling to be obedient and respectful of authority.

No matter how the conflict begins, or what problems may arise, there is always just one solution: Jesus!  He is the answer to every problem. To quote a song: “Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, that is who you are!”  Jesus is just that--he makes a way in the darkness. “I am the way the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

So about two weeks ago, I had a conflict with my daughter.  And after our phone conversation, I went to prayer. I asked God what should I do?  So after praying a while, the Lord gave me four visions in a row.  

 The Visions:

The Stroller

I saw that  I was pushing a stroller in the sand.  It was tough going. The wheels did not turn or roll easily through the sand.  It was like pushing a rock uphill. It was definitely slow, hard work.

The Baby

Next, I saw someone feeding a baby.

The Moose

Then I saw a female moose, without antlers.  She was running back and forth, looking this way, stopping for a second and looking the other way.  It was as if she had lost something, or had lost her way. She was bewildered; a worried expression was upon her face.

A Small Boat

Then I saw a small boat, large enough for one or two people.  It was a beautiful boat, white and blue. The sky was blue and the water was lapping the shore.  The boat was at the shoreline with it’s oar or paddle laid across the bow. It was an invitation to hop in, to push off from the shore and take a ride.

What I believe the visions mean:

Pushing the Stroller

These visions represent God’s understanding heart and his desire to comfort us.  He was acknowledging my struggle with my daughter by showing me that my effort in promoting our relationship, was like trying to push a stroller in the sand.   It was slow going and hard work.

The Baby Being Fed

At first, I believed that the vision of the baby being fed simply represented the the joy of an earlier time, when a child is innocent, and its life is only beginning. But as I began to wait upon the Lord for his interpretation, I remembered a dream the Lord had given me about 16 years ago. I will share that with you briefly:

In the dream, I was in a house that my parents owned. I was with my born-again, Spirit filled sister upstairs in the bathroom. I opened the door of the laundry chute, and flames shot up from below. I yelled to her, “Let’s get out of here!” We ran down the stairs and came to the kitchen. I looked through the kitchen window and saw my son as a toddler, strapped into a car seat in my minivan. Suddenly, I saw three motor cyclists arriving. They got off their bikes and came in through the kitchen door. One asked me, “Who started this fire? Was it your dad?”

I told him, “No it wasn’t my father.” Then the men went into the living room to take care of the fire. I turned around and saw another sister (the one who practices divination with her holistic medicine business). She was seated on the floor nursing my daughter. I grabbed my sister by the arm and said, “We’ve got to get out of here!” But she refused to get up off the floor. She told me, “I like it here. It is just fine.”

My sister liked the fire! She was content in her deception. And she was nursing my daughter! My sister and my mother were the ones who caused the fire by entertaining and teaching everything that was contrary to the truth and contrary to the Word of God. My mother believed then, and still does, that Jesus was only a man and that the Bible cam from men’s imagination. This has lead to spiritual bondage in my family.

So just as it was in this earlier vision, where my sister was nursing my daughter on the floor of a burning house, in this recent vision, I realized that the person feeding the baby was also my sister. What she was doing was feeding her lies, and giving her a taste of divination. The Lord was simply confirming what I had believed to be true, that my struggles with my daughter are due spiritual oppression.

When we do not recognize sin in our lives due to deception, we cannot repent of that sin, nor do we have the desire to change. We can become trapped in this deception. It is only prayer that can open the eyes of the spiritually blind. It is only through prayer that our loved ones can be set free. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:44

Years ago, my daughter was invited to live with and work for my sister, writing training manuals for her very lucrative “wellness” business. My sister has trained many people who now make up a large part of her wholesale business. She sells her training programs, specialized “diagnostic” equipment and herbal-water concoctions. I have referred to her business as hocus-pocus medicine, because her practice is not based on science but on deception. Unfortunately, because my daughter was intricately involved in my sister’s business, she has become fully indoctrinated with these false beliefs, pseudo-medical practices, and divination. Because of these open doors, she is no longer seeking God, as she had years before. “You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God“ Leviticus 19:31

And “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship does light have to do with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14

The Moose

In the vision of the moose, I believe that the Lord was showing me that my reaction to the situation, was like the female moose, running back and forth, not knowing what to do or where to go.  I think he chose the moose, because a moose are somewhat comical. Perhaps you remember The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show with Rocket J Squirrel and Bullwinkle Moose. I think the Lord wanted me to see the futility of my worry. “‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.’”  Luke 10:42

What was that one thing? It was to sit at the feet of Jesus and to learn from him! Sometimes we need to do just that. The Lord wants us to know him and to trust him!  It was futile to run back and forth, when all that I needed to do was to be still.  “Be still and know that I am God.”  Psalm 46:10 

Just as Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm, and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.”  Exodus 14:13  

The Boat

In the vision, when I saw the small boat at the water’s edge, with the oar or paddle across its bow, I knew immediately that the Lord was giving me an invitation to hop in.  He wanted me to put out from shore, and to go with him a bit. He was calling me to spend time with him. We need to get alone with God. He wants to speak with us. He wants us to draw near to him and hear his voice.  The Lord is very personal. He wants each of us to know him intimately. “Draw near to God,  and he will draw near to you.”  James 4:8  

“How I longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!”  Luke 13:34

Let us not be hard.  Let us not be too busy. Let us not forfeit the peace that we could have. Just draw close to him. He is the Prince of Peace. Choose to be with him; make the time. After all, what could we possibly do that is more important?

The Lord gives more comfort:

Just a couple of days ago, the Lord gave me a dream and a vision concerning my daughter.

First came the dream in the early morning hours.  I found myself in a cargo plane with an open interior. I saw that my daughter did not want to be in the plane, so we stopped to drop her off.

Then back in the air, I could see the ground below. The terrain was flat with patches of bushes and dry soil.  Flames were coming up from the ground. I saw my daughter run from behind a bush. She looked highly distressed. I told someone, to take the plane down and rescue her. 

Then I was no longer in the plane, but in the air. I could see the airplane door open and her stepping inside.

Once again I was back inside the plane looking for her. I thought to myself, “She has to be here, I just saw her board.”  Then I turned around and saw her. She was so happy to have been rescued. She gave me a big hug.

Then I awoke from the dream. I was elated and greatly relieved to see that my daughter was safe and sound, and happy to see me. I started praying right then and it was only a minute or two later that the Lord gave me a vision.  I saw his hand with a gold wedding ring.

The Lord was showing me that he is mine, and I am his. It is the promise that a man makes to his bride, a promise to be faithful.

The Lord was declaring his love and faithfulness to me.  What could be more comforting that knowing that God himself is our husband. And we in turn are his bride. We have been redeemed, and bought by his precious blood. The Lord is our God, our king and our savior. He is the one to whom we belong. We are his and he is ours. The Lord has declared, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Joshua 1:5

“For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. Isaiah 54:5

So the Lord is our husband. And we, the Church, are the Bride of Christ. But it is also true that the Lord is married to the backslider. A backslider is one who was once with God and has since departed. My daughter has walked away from the Church, but claims to have not walked away from God. Yet— I see that there has been a change in her devotion to the Lord. “Return, faithless people,” declares the Lord, “for I am your husband. I will choose you— one from a town and two from a clan— and bring you to Zion.“ Jeremiah 3:14

The Lord has chosen my daughter; he is her husband. I believe in the faithfulness of God. He will woo her to himself. How great are his promises! How can we not but love him! Jesus you are wonderful!  

In visions, in dreams, through his written word and through the still small voice and sometimes even in an audible voice, the Lord reveals himself to us.   He is so tender and loving. He understands our hearts.  He knows the pain and anguish we have, longing for our children and loved ones to be saved.  

He is a God of comfort.  He sent a small boat to me to take me away with him.  He showed me his wedding ring, because he is faithful to me, and to his bride, the Church.  He showed his greatest love for us on the cross, with his arms outstretched. He is God; He is King; He is Lord of all! 

The Lord, speaking through Paul, gave these instructions to us: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:3=5

So we are to comfort others with the comfort we have received from the Lord. I hope that this message is one of comfort for you too. For the Lord showed me his tender love and comfort by sending a boat at the water’s edge, and reminding me with the gold ring on his finger, that he is faithful.

Be blessed, and stand firm in your faith. Call to the Lord and he will answer you!