We’re constantly seeking comfort, but often not from God …

The average American has learned to develop a very stressed and anxious lifestyle. Because of that, we’re constantly seeking comfort from our stress and worries.

The problem is, most of us don’t turn to the God of all comfort to be comforted!

Instead, we turn to:

• • Other people.
  • Food.
  • Activities.
  • Sex.
  • Pornography.
  • Stimulants, from coffee and sugary sodas to drugs and alcohol.
  • Attention via social media.
  • Acclaim.

… and so goes the list.

But so often, when we feel a need for comfort, we don’t turn to God.

When was the last time that, instead of comforting yourself with food, you spent time with God in prayer?

When was the last time, instead of comforting yourself by zoning out with a Netflix marathon, you instead spent that time in prayer and reading the Bible?

When was the last time, instead of reaching for yet another cup of coffee you instead sought comfort from God through time in prayer and/or His Word?

When was the last time that, instead of lighting up another cigarette for “relief,” you turned to God in prayer?

We can ask that same question about many other things, because even though we are told that God is our very source of comfort for whatever we face in life, we routinely turn to other persons and/or things to seek a sense of comfort. That’s because too many of us just don’t think God is sufficient for the kind of comfort we think we need. We’re more like the man in mourning in this story:

One night while conducting an evangelistic meeting in the Salvation Army Citadel in Chicago, Booth Tucker preached on the sympathy of Jesus. After his message a man approached him and said, “If your wife had just died, like mine has, and your babies were crying for their mother, who would never come back, you wouldn’t be saying what you’re saying.” Tragically, a few days later, Tucker’s wife was killed in a train wreck. Her body was brought to Chicago and carried to the same Citadel for the funeral.

After the service the bereaved preacher looked down into the silent face of his wife and then turned to those attending.

“The other day a man told me I wouldn’t speak of the sympathy of Jesus if my wife had just died. If that man is here, I want to tell him that Christ is sufficient. My heart is broken, but it has a song put there by Jesus. I want that man to know that Jesus Christ speaks comfort to me today.”

The greatest reason why so many remain uncomforted is because we do not make God our primary source of comfort, which scripture tells us He is …

“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?” Isaiah 51:12.

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others …” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4a.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:6-7.

Who or what are you turning to when you feel a need to be comforted? How could you have a greater sense of comfort by making God your primary source for comfort?

Scotty