When Comfort Crumbles
In the cozy city of Mississauga, where everything seems perfect with neat lawns and fancy amenities, I recently got a reality check. Fifteen minutes before I got home, a shooting happened right down the street from my home, shattering the illusion of safety that surrounded me. It made me remember that the peace we enjoy in our comfortable neighbourhoods is not as secure as it seems and that the violence and evil we see on the news are not just far-off stories.
Living in a comfy city can make us feel really safe, like nothing bad could ever happen. The quiet streets, the trees lightly dusted with snow, and the nice houses create a sense of peace that we think will last forever. But when unexpected violence disrupts this peace, it’s a wake-up call—this side of heaven is not going to ever give us the comfort we seek.
The recent incident in my neighbourhood reminded me that the good things in our lives can be temporary. It was a small glimpse of the reality of violence and evil that happens all around the world. While it’s nice to live in a peaceful and safe neighbourhood, those of us in Mississauga often need to be reminded that true safety and comfort can only be found in God.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4, NIV).
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 tells us that our Father in heaven is the true and only source of comfort.
Verse 3 gives us one of the titles of God that we must remember: He is the Father of compassion and of all comfort. Our God is not distant; our God is not far. He cares deeply about our state, our thoughts, and our feelings, and when we finally see and genuinely know that God is the loving Father that He truly is, we can then realize that only in Him can we find complete comfort and security.
Because our God is truly unlike any other. He is all-knowing and knows the worst of us, yet He seeks to know us. He is all powerful, yet He cares for weak beings like us. He is omnipresent, yet He reminds us that He chooses to dwell in us through His Spirit.
Now verse 4 should surprise; we see that God purposes and shapes times of comfort for a reason. That we can “comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” God can take the worst circumstances enacted by sinful humans and transform them for His purpose and glory—to share the great joy that we have with those who have no idea.
So, when the illusion of suburban comfort crumbles, will you turn to the true source of all comfort? When you feel a sense of hopelessness the next time you read a headline or watch a video clip, will you first turn to the only source of comfort, God, and then turn others to Him as well?
Guest Contributor,
Bryan Lee, Senior Associate Pastor