Today my ten year old carried a sweater up to me (as I was working in my office from home) and handing it to me she inhaled big and said “your sweater smells so good.” I smelled it and said I don’t smell anything to which she replied “it smells like you and I love that smell.” I have to admit it made me smile and my heart swell just a little bit.
As I sit here working on ministry work, breaking down parables for our class, I thought about what my daughter said to me, and I am consoled that this kind of comfort does not have to leave us as adults. God wants to bring that kind of comfort into our lives. We have been fearfully and wonderfully made in His image to which He searches the entire earth to find people, to rescue people, and to bring completion to their life through His, only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. I am constantly reminded how religion and hateful people try to take that from others. I encourage you today to allow God into your life to be that comfort you need, that smell of familiarity, and the voice of peace in your life that brings a transformational love. Comfort means to soothe, while I could not detect my own scent it was obvious that my daughter could and it brought her great comfort in smelling it. I believe God wants to be that for us right now. That soothing balm for our weary souls, troubled minds, and anxious hearts.
The Message Bible, Matthew 11: 28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Don’t let anything or anyone keep you from receiving that incredible redemptive love. God wants you to be part of His family. I love that God’s family is made up of a lot of misfits. Oh, I could do an entire sermon about the misfits in God’s family but I don’t have enough room to do that on here. Please don’t let bad experiences, religious people, or anger keep you from receiving the comfort God has for. It is such a sweet, sweet love that brings a divine peace.
It is my prayer that each of you feel the love the Lord has for you and to know it is a personal love because Jesus is a personal Savior. You were created with individuality in a unique fashion for God’s glory that is to reveal God’s marvelous splendor to the world in a way that only you can. Don’t be a victim to past mistakes, current situations, or held hostage by emotions. God looks at you with tender affection. Comforting: God was an encouraging presence to Moses, God was a reassuring voice to Joshua, God was a calming voice to the Prophet Elijah, God was an inspiring voice Jeremiah, Jesus was an uplifting presence to the masses of people that sought His help over and over… Always from the beginning of creation until now God has desired to be a comfort in the lives of those that would allow Him.
I encourage you to take a leap of faith into the comforting arms of Jesus.
Good Afternoon Ladies…
PS. It took me a long time to realize the comfort of the Lord because all I was taught was His wrath, His anger, and judgment but God is a loving God and desires to be love in your life. It took me longer to realize His comforting voice because I didn’t really have one growing up. Even if you didn’t get to grow up with a comforting smell or voice from someone you loved, know that God desires to be that for you. He wants you to be part of His family. What gives me the most comfort in life is knowing that I am never alone, I know that God goes with me on this journey I travel. He is not offended to be part of my messy life. He brings a soothing order to my chaos, comforting my heart, soul, and mind. Renewing me each day for what is ahead.