I greet you in Jesus’ precious name. It is Thursday morning, the 21st of March, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan with a thought for today. 

We start in the book of Isaiah 51:12:

“I, even I, am He who comforts you.
Who are you that you should be afraid…” 

We’ll just stop there. We go straight from there 2 Corinthians 1:4. We are talking about the Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest Comforter of all.

”…who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we”, here’s the key: ”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 

We can only really comfort other people when we truly understand what they are going through, and the only way to really understand is when we ourselves have been through that very trial or hardship, and then to comfort them through it all by the love of Christ. You see, Jesus knows my dear friend, what it means to be lonely. Remember in the Garden of Gethsemane when the disciples were with Him? He asked them to pray and then they went to sleep and He was left by Himself? Have you ever felt like that? Of course. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, the disciples didn’t stand with Him, they ran away—all of them.

He also understands what it’s like to be betrayed. This morning, maybe someone has let you down badly, someone who said, “I’ll be with you till the end,” and they have left you. Betrayal is a terrible thing. Jesus knows what it feels like because His disciples did the same. Remember, Judas Iscariot. He sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, but Jesus still washed his feet. It’s incredible love that, folks.

Thomas said, ”I’ll believe it when I see it.” He doubted the Lord, and Peter, the one He was really relying upon, let Him down and denied Him three times. Jesus understands what you’re going through this morning. What about lies? Has anybody told any lies about you? ”Oh, Angus, plenty.” Jesus understands. He was falsely accused of all kinds of things in front of Pontius Pilate, and He is more than able to comfort you and I. Why? Because He has been there Himself before. 

Unless you have been there yourself, never say to a person who is going through a difficult time, ”I understand,” because you actually don’t, do you? Rather love them as Jesus loved us. Weep with them as Jesus wept with us and remind them, very importantly, that weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

Jesus bless you and keep your eyes fixed on Him. He will walk with you right through that fire.

God bless you and goodbye.