Finding Comfort

"For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows." 2 Corinthians 1:5 Several years ago, when my husband and I were building a house, we went looking for new furniture to fill it. I found a fantastic chair just for me and I fell in love with the way it felt in the store. I imagined sitting my new chair at our home, curled up under a blanket with a good book on my lap or watching a movie with the family. Once the furniture was delivered, it was apparent that my chair wasn't going to be placed where I thought, and if I sat in it, I couldn't see the t.v. at all. I ended up having my favorite place in the den be the corner of our couch. So for 3-1/2 years I never sat in my chair. I just admired it from afar. Now that we are in our new apartment, my chair is in the perfect place for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed relaxing in it, reading a good book and watching movies with the family. I even fell asleep in it one night! As I sat in my chair the other night, I thought about the things that bring us comfort. The last few weeks have been challenging for us as a family. Everything that was "comfortable" for us is changed. If our comfort comes from things, and those things change, then what? Our children have found comfort in us, their parents, trying to keep some semblance of the life we had before we moved. Routine for them is comfort - going to the same school, seeing the same friends and having us to come home to. My husband and I have found comfort in getting things unpacked and orderly in a way we are accustomed to. Most importantly though, we have found great comfort in watching what God has done. The Lord has made himself known to us these last few weeks in more ways than I can describe here. The greatest comfort I have is spending time with him, with a very thankful heart for all he has done. Much like my chair, comfort from Jesus can be admired from afar or it can envelope you. You can walk past it, day in and day out, or you can sit down and take a few moments to curl up in his love and let it wash over you. If how much I am enjoying my chair is any indication, I will never again admire God's comfort from afar.