Do You Need Comfort?

A few mornings ago, I woke up to the Lord’s voice within saying,   Comfort, comfort my people.   I knew this came from the prophet Isaiah, so I looked it up in the Passion Translation and read the first two verses of Isaiah 40: Your God says to you: “Comfort, comfort my people with gentle, compassionate words. Speak tenderly from the heart to revive those in Jerusalem, and proclaim that their warfare is over. Her debt of sin is paid for, and she will not be treated as guilty. Prophesy to her that she has received from the hand of Yahweh twice as many blessings as all her sins.” Despite the poor choices that God’s people were making at the time because they were straying from the truth of who God said they were, this promise from God’s tender heart came to them through his son, servant and friend, Isaiah, to bring comfort, assurance and hope. Restoration happens because God, our Father, extends His merciful hand out…again. I say again because this is always what God does. This is His heart for us that never changes. He is well aware that unless He comes to where we are in our misperceptions and leads us gently back to the truth of who He says we are, we have no way of turning ourselves around to experience the peace and joy of resting in His goodness. We all need comfort—genuine comfort, not the Band-aids of comfort foods, Netflix binge watching or addictions we try to self-administer in an attempt to find relief from feelings of loneliness, fear or despair. So, I speak to you the tender words of our Father to revive your heart during this tumultuous time in world history.   My child, no matter what messes you’ve made because of your misperceptions about Me, yourself, or others, I have forgiven you and I’m right here to comfort you.  You need to know I’m not at war with the world, nor with you. I so loved the world that I sent my son, Jesus, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. My heart has never changed. This is true for the world, and it is true for you. Sin has been paid for on the cross. The lie of separation was taken to the grave so you can live with an ongoing awareness of your oneness with me. In the midst of these tumultuous times, don’t be afraid! It is my intention to bless you, to bless your family, and to bless the nations of the world.   Colossians 2:13, 20 (TPT) “God made you alive with Christ; he forgave us all our sins. And by the blood of his cross, everything in heaven and earth is brought back to himself, back to its original intent, restored to innocence again.”   Friends, I encourage you to choose to surrender your own understanding of what you think is happening in the world; Choose to surrender being the director of your own play in an attempt to control the outcome the way you want it to be; And choose to rest and be comforted by the truth of your Father’s tender heart for you.   I declare Shalom! It is well with your soul!   Love, Brent

For even more comfort, watch this short video.