The cry you have poured out has been heard, and it is a heavy burden of sorrow for the forsaken and for the unborn. Men need comfort because they are but men, and there are griefs here that no human heart can fully bear, the loneliness of those abandoned by father and mother, by husband or wife, by son or daughter, by brother or sister and by friend, the homelessness of those who have no house to refuge in and no shelter to support them, and the great sin and sorrow of children despised and cast away before they have seen the light.
Yet the Word of the Lord gives a sure comfort for such affliction. Though my father and my mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me, Psalm 27:10. Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne, Isaiah 49:15. Though nature should fail, the Lord does not forget. When God says, I will comfort you, then the soul shall be satisfied even out of poor earthen vessels, for it is God's work. He will comfort His people in the very place of their trouble.
This is my comfort in my affliction, says the Psalmist, God's own Word. First, it is God's Word that comforts, and we must fly to it with speed in every time of trouble and pray earnestly over it that it may quicken us, for the comfort is partly outward coming from God's Word, but it is mainly and preeminently inward, for it is God's Word experienced as to its quickening power within the soul. If you can say, Whatever pain I suffer, whatever grief I endure, yet I am a living child of God, then you have a wellspring of comfort. It is better to be the most afflicted child of God than to be the happy worldling.
Therefore let us seek comfort not from the mere word of man, nor from false prophets and divination which are disorders that deceive, but from the mouth of God Himself. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's dear Son, cleanses us from all sin, and there is salvation in no other, for God has justified His people through Christ alone. Who is he that condemns. He will bring His people into a wilderness of grief and sorrow, and then He will come near and speak sweet words of comfort into the ear. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God, and when He speaks that word He speaks to all His people to comfort one another.
And the place of comfort is the assembly of God's people. Therefore live, not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is. Those who expect God to comfort them at home while they refuse to go to God's house for the comfort have no reason to expect it. There the Lord often makes the conduit pipes full to bursting with the drink the soul requires.
Let us pray together.
O Lord our Father, whose compassion fails not, look in mercy upon all who suffer abandonment and upon every child despised and rejected by mother or father. Thou seest the unborn and Thou art their Maker. We entrust into Thy gracious care the innocent who have been slain or lost through abortion and miscarriage, asking that in Thy sovereign mercy Thou wilt receive them into Thy presence, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Forgive the shedding of innocent blood and turn the hearts of this generation from the way of death to life.
Have pity upon those who are alone, upon children abandoned in the streets, upon families broken and scattered, upon neighbors living in disorder and betwixt witchery and false comforts. Provide for them shelter and refuge, raise up among Thy people homes and hands to support them, and make Thy church a true sanctuary for the friendless. Comfort every aching heart with Thy Word quickened by Thy Spirit, and establish Thy people in every good word and work, that comfort and constancy may go together and not comfort alone without holiness.
We ask not that Thou wouldst bless what Thou hast called sin, but that Thou wouldst bring rebuke where rebuke is needed, and spiritual quickening and true sanctification, which are more greatly to be valued than any measure of comfort whatever. Grant repentance and faith through Jesus Christ alone, that those who mourn may find rest in His finished work and peace in heaven through His blood.
Hear this prayer of a beggar for shelter and for mercy, and let Thy comfort be to purpose, that hearts may be established and mouths filled with praise when Thou hast turned mourning into laughter. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord we ask it, Amen.