A Devotion for the Hurting – Find comfort in Jesus –

A Devotion for the Hurting –

Prepared by Pastor Calvin Cook –

January 15, 2025

Over the last few weeks as I have been with others who are going through test, trials, brokenness, grief and a raft of other emotions and situations, I have relied heavily on the words and promise of Jesus as contained within scripture from John 14:16-18

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” (NKJV)

While trying to comfort and at the same time find resolve and comfort for myself, realizing that presence and comfort of God through the presence of the Holy Spirit is what has got me through and what I have shared and continue to share is what will get us all through whatever it is that we are going through. However, we must be willing to receive and walk through the door that has been opened for us.

This is why again the words of Jesus from Matthew 11:28-30 become so essential and comforting to us. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

When we find our comfort and hope in God – as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we find a completeness and comfort, and this is not just occasional it is available all the time. I realize that some think of these passages of scripture as just nice words for difficult times, but they are so much more.

The other thing that I have observed is the need for a caring community. Whether it be a church, a small group, a grief group, or friends’ group; we need community, we need each other.  Much better is a God centered group where we also embrace the presence of Jesus as we sit together, talk together, cry and laugh together. This is why in the presence of Jesus where these two or three have gathered in the name of Jesus that we find something different. We need each other!

One final thought that I hope to share and that I have experienced is brought to life through Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” In my brokenness, life situations and everything else there is nothing, absolutely nothing that brings a holy ointment to my wounds, and healing to my troubled soul then the presence of Jesus, the hope of a bright eternity, and the calming of raging seas and a bright light in the darkness shining the way.

My prayer is not just to think of these words as nice words but think of them as a way through whatever it is you are going through. To not diminish this idea of Jesus presence in your life, thinking you have everything all figured out. There is still more, so much more – and that is all available in Jesus.