Strong Medicine

 “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 have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Compassion: sorrow and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others

Origin: Latin compassio(n-), from compati ‘suffer with.’

 Comfort: to make someone feel less unhappy, help someone feel more at ease, From late Latin confortare ‘strengthen,’ From com- (expressing intensive force) + Latin fortis ‘strong.

My Abba,

I praise you this morning for you are my God. Everything good in my life arises from your compassionate hands. I know well what it is like to be carried by your comfort. You have crawled with me through some thorn-filled gauntlets in my life. You have rescued me from indescribable pain, drawn out poison, and bandaged my wounds. You are my strong medicine! The one who mends my ailing heart and mind.

The trouble in this world does not take a time out, recess, or holiday. But fortunately you don’t either. Thank you that you have compassion for me. You suffer with me when I suffer. Thank you that you are always there to ease my pain, to offer me your joy, and to strengthen me.

I love the fact that the root of the word for comfort is “fortis” meaning strong. You make me stronger as you soothe my pain. And from that place, you give me the opportunity to partner with you in soothing the wounds of others. Thank you for allowing me to pass on your comfort and strength to others who feel crushed by the weight of this world.

 Please be the healing balm that flows through me to those who are hurting.

I love you,

Mollie

My child,

I always stand ready to be a wellspring of comfort to you. I know sometimes you feel battered by adversaries as you make your way through this life. Your battle is real. But some things that appear to be allies are not. Don’t look to them for comfort. Their anesthesia might make you feel less pain for a moment but that power quickly fades. Mine does not. My comfort is endless and eternal.

Keep looking to me. I provide a remedy that actually grows more potent over time. Then you can be a conduit of my comfort to others. I will still be the source. But you will have the opportunity to allow my grace to flow through you. I will give you my compassion so you have supernatural mercy to share with those in pain.

I don’t want you to be crushed as you care for those I place in your life. Let me hoist your back-breaking burdens onto my shoulders. I will never be weighed down.  No burden is more than I can bear.

I love you,

Abba

photo: elena schweitzer