“When I am anxious with many heart-cares, your comfort gives me renewed hope and joy.” Ps.94:19
Heavenly Father, saying your comfort gives us renewed hope and joy is like saying water brings Niagara Falls encouragement, or fish make Sea World happy, pasta makes spaghetti rejoice. Truly, you are “the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort” (2Cor.1:3). No one cares for us more than you, Abba. Our heart-cares will never be more numerous and greater than the supply of your love, grace, joy, and hope. Thank you.
How do you bring us fresh hope and joy? When we get lost in the weeds of our hurts, confusion, and fears—you shatter the darkness with the North Star of the Gospel. Every day is a return to Gospel-sanity—remembering the lyrics of the Gospel, but also hearing its music. Turn up the volume on the music, Abba.
By your Holy Spirit, make the truth, goodness, and beauty of Jesus impossible to resist, compellingly sweet, and satisfying today beyond all other consolations. Whether through your Word, creation, the gift of music, corporate worship—the bread and cup of your supper today … we’ll supply the need, we’ll trust you for the comfort.
Father, thank you for also caring for us through our soul-sisters and grace-brothers—our “Gospel-posse.” Just when Paul needed some fresh “heart-care,” you sent Titus (2Cor.7:6), another time it was Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaicus (1Cor.16:17-18), and then there were Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus (Col.4:10). Father, thank you for friends who listen from the heart, extend your kindness, bring your comfort to us. They’ll take our call today, so why would we resist reaching out? And some of our friends need that call from us, likewise, so why would we delay? Lead us in both directions, Abba. So Very Amen.