Everyone needs a word of comfort.
One day Almighty God inspired and motivated a man called Isaiah to speak a word of comfort to His people, and to speak that word tenderly.
"Comfort my people.
Go and proclaim a message that will comfort these men and women.
" Comfort means to fortify or fortress.
Encourage my people so that they become like a fort or an impregnable castle.
Put strength into their hearts.
Enable them to face what they will have to face.
When you comfort someone you don't molly coddle them, nor wrap them in cotton wool, by keeping them from the truth.
To tell people that things are all right when they are not, is deceitful, misleading and lying.
The people to whom Isaiah spoke had been through a lengthy period of sore suffering.
They had refused to listen to the warnings sounded by the prophets God sent.
The many opportunities they had been given to repent and turn to God were spurned, and the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem, taking the people off captive to what is now modern day Iraq.
They were so sad they were unable to sing the praises of God.
There is a lot of sadness around today with few signs of victory.
Having experienced a period of judgment, God was about to show them mercy.
Having been punished, they were now being pardoned.
Having been persecuted and harshly treated in Babylon, God was intervening to rescue them from unjust suffering, and bring them back to Jerusalem.
God was wooing His people.
He still does.
Jesus Christ taught His chosen men that He would send the Holy Spirit, who is also called the Comforter.
He comes alongside to help, giving strength for today, and strength for tomorrow.
Sandy Shaw Nairn Christian Fellowship