Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. The tears that flow in the sanctuary are not unseen; the heavy heart that lifts praise through its sorrow is a precious offering. This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your Word has quickened me. You need a comfort that you can press to your bosom and say, “This is my comfort,” this which I have here at this present time. And what is that comfort? The blood of Jesus whispers peace within. Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours? Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers. It is enough; earth’s struggles soon shall cease, and Jesus calls us to Heaven’s perfect peace.
This sorrow you bear is itself a sweet bitter, a delicious grief, for it is bound up with love and with the hope of the resurrection. When the Spirit of grace and supplication is poured out, there is a mourning that is not like the sorrow of the world which works death. You mourn, but not as those without hope. Your brother, being in Jesus’ keeping, is safe, and so are you. Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away? In Jesus’ keeping we are safe, and they. Let this truth stay your mind. Lord, You will ordain peace for us: for You also have worked all our works in us. Troubled saint, what a precious passage this is for you! There shall come an ordinance from God that His people shall have peace.
Do not think that comfort is found by pushing away the grief entirely. God does not always give the comfort we ask for by a distinct act, but He quickens us and so we obtain comfort. That quickening comes by His Word and His Spirit. When your heart is overwhelmed, turn to the Word. This is my comfort in my affliction: for Your Word has quickened me. Oh, it is not the letter, but the Spirit which is our real comfort! Let the Spirit bring to your remembrance the good and positive memories you long to cherish, and let them be sanctified, not as idols, but as signposts pointing to the goodness of God and the certainty of reunion where there will be no more parting.
You plead to be uplifted in mind and spirit even as you uplift the Name of the Lord. This is according to the divine order. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good Word and work. Comfort and constancy are joined together. If comfort alone were given, you might sit down in sweet contemplation and neglect the labor of praise and service that is yet yours among the living. But constancy without comfort will not suffice; your lack of comfort might lead to a loss of perseverance. Therefore, the double portion is needed. God can comfort to purpose. He does not merely leave you to the words of a fellow pilgrim, but Himself draws near.
So now, in this very hour of worship, let your mind be stayed on Him. The gates are open, but no enemy shall enter in. He will keep you in perfect peace, double peace, whose mind is stayed on Him. If you trust in horses and chariots, they will fail; but staying the mind on the changeless God brings the peace that passes understanding. When the tears come, let them fall before Him. Let not His people behold the breaking of earthly ties without a mourning like the mourning of Hadadrimmon, yet always tempered with the knowledge that the Beloved Josiah who fell in battle was not defeated but called to his reward.
He knows your heaviness. He remembers that you are but dust. The smoking flax He will not quench, nor break the bruised reed. Your faith, though it flicker and seem feeble under the weight of sorrow, is precious to Him. Despair not. There is a spark in you that is from Himself, and He will fan it into a flame again. Even now, as you praise Him though weeping, He accepts that sacrifice. He gathers your tears into His bottle.
Remember, then, the future that is yours. You shall forget the trouble that was such a burden on your heart. The day comes when you will bless God and praise His name in the great congregation, with no overshadowing cloud. Till then, cast your anchor yet again into the steadfast love of Christ. When you feel the slipping of earthly hopes, let that anchor hold you fast. Be of good comfort. He died to redeem just such sorrowing souls. Peace shall be upon Israel, and upon you. Amen.