A few circumstances over the last two nights have necessitated me spending the night at my parents house. Yesterday evening I was upstairs packing, fussing about something while shoving random things into an overnight bag, remembering some non-essentials and forgetting other essentials. In went a library book I haven't even cracked yet, even though I got it days ago, a pair of high heels, my ear plugs (Dad is getting older and he watches TV late at night very loudly because of his bad hearing... so loud in fact that I finally had to resort to ear plugs), nail polish and nail polish remover, and my Snuggie.

Thankfully I also remembered my toothbrush, but forgot shampoo and a shaver, and most importantly a sweatshirt... I get cold a lot.

Thank goodness for the Snuggie.

Sunday was a hard day for me emotionally. Sometimes when God teaches us things its gradual, and sometimes its in a HUGE fell swoop. It was one of those days that was "one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for Kaela."

Today was a board meeting day, exhausting to the extreme.

Both days my headache has been fairly consistent.

So I can't express the importance of comfort of my parent's home the last two nights. Its not that its fancy or amazing. My old bedroom is not what it used to be when I was in it. But when I am exhausted and hurting and cold and hungry, I can't explain the genuine need for comfort that is met by a homemade cookie, my old bedroom, a warm Snuggie, and MacGyver reruns.

I was looking up Scriptures on comfort and surprised, really, at the fact that God is a God of comfort! Why should I be surprised at that? I don't know why I was, but I was. For some reason the things about the Lord that stand out to me are more His justices, or His directives, or even His love and grace. But there is something about COMFORT that sounds so engaging, so "hands-on", so intimate.

Lets look here at some of the verses I founds:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me, Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Ps. 23:4)

You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.(Ps. 71:21)

Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Your word to Your servant. (Ps. 119: 76)

"Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" says your God. "Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins." (Is. 40:1-2)

For I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow. (Jeremiah 31:13)

And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.(Acts 9:31)
 
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus... (Romans 15:4-5)


Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort 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. (2 Cor. 1:3-4)

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. (2 Thes. 2:16-17)

I think perhaps the verse I like the most out of all of those is the psalm that says, "You will comfort me on every side." Somehow that just seems like an embrace. Or a Snuggie. Or a sleeping bag. That God's comfort is wrap-around comfort, that doesn't leave my back undefended or my heart cold.

So often I go to Jesus for strength, or endurance, or wisdom. But when was the last time I went to Him for comfort? I immediately go to Haley or Michelle for emotional comfort, or to my parents' house or my dad's restaurant for physical comfort. But do I go to Jesus to comfort me in times I need comfort?

Not usually, I approach Him on other levels, so often, but not one of comfort.

Is it wrong to let you know that right now I have an image of God as a HUGE, MASSIVE cobalt blue Snuggie? :) Wrap-around comfort from the God of the universe. His Word is comfort, His Holy Spirit-ness is comfort, His love and guidance is comfort.

Oh that we would learn to lean into the comfort of Jesus, like his beloved disciple did at the Last Supper.