"How can we find comfort and encouragement in the midst of personal and cultural darkness?"

Every year the new buds on the trees are a comfort from God as it means that Spring is just around the corner. Every season has its weather challenges but my poor attitude too often matches the cold with less sunlight winter. The new buds on the trees represent what Paul told the Ephesians to do; “to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.“ ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬-‭24‬

”For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.“ ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬

But In this world where we are confronted with the cold winds of personal and cultural darkness, we can call on the strength of the God of comfort and consolation . The Greek word for comfort and consolation is paraklesis, which isn’t just a soothing sympathy, but it is also encouragement . I love how the theologian William Barclay simply puts it: “It is the help which not only puts an arm around a man but sends him out to face the world; it not only wipes away the tears but enables him to face the world with steady eyes. Paraklesis is comfort and strength combined. “ God is He who can turn a season of despair into a season of our glory with a newness of mind and heart and renewed strength. I took this personally as a wife and mother. Life is hard for our husbands and children as they face the world’s challenges each day. God created woman to be the “Eschat Chayil”, the woman warrior who is their “paraklesis” and sends them out with comfort and strength combined . 

However, to be able to comfort and encourage others , the Apostle Paul encouraged the Philippians to “focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy.“ Philippians ‭4‬:‭8

The comfort we receive from God, the “paraklesis” , and a renewed mind like Paul spelled out, will enable us to conclude, “”I can do all things through him who infuses me with strength.” Philippians 4‬:‭13‬ ‭

To be a comfort to others, we just need to call on the One who “infuses us with strength” and be the new bud of hope in the midst of a harsh season for others. Let us turn to He “who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.“ ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬

Amen. Amen. 👆👆❤️❤️🫶🙌🏻💕