“It was the year of illness, emergency hospital visits, health diagnosis, loneliness, tears and sanctification… but, upon reflection, mostly comfort.”
Renee
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ, we share abundantly in comfort too.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
It was the year of illness, emergency hospital visits, health diagnosis, loneliness, tears and sanctification… but, upon reflection, mostly comfort.
Not comfortable, easy or smooth. But the year of experiencing God’s comfort amidst grief and suffering.
The comfort of knowing God is sovereign and I am not. The comfort of realising that when I struggled with unbelief and feelings of too-little-faith, the Holy Spirit is the perfecter of our faith, who generously pours the gift of great faith into weary hearts who pray for it. The comfort of witnessing God’s beauty, His created wonders, breaking through amidst the darkness. The comfort of sensing God’s goodness in terrible circumstances. The comfort of those who were the hands and feet of the Lord, providing for us in our time of need. My sisters mourning alongside me, not belittling my pain or throwing scripture or feel-good mantras my way, but humbling themselves to just BE present with me, to cry with me, to pray for me. The comfort found while caring for others, holding my baby boy, snuggled close in my arms, his beautiful warm little body delighting in my embrace, all the while remembering he was a gift the Lord knew I needed. The comfort of understanding my prayers are heard, that God positions himself near to hear. The comfort of confidence in my future – nothing can snatch me away from the safety of Jesus’ embrace. The ultimate comfort of remembering it won’t always be this way.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
It was the year of comfort. And in reflection, that comfort brings peace 
