He Will Comfort You

A month ago, our household went from being just the two of us to three as we acquired a gorgeous little puppy, a miniature dachshund called Daisy. I didn’t realise just how much like having a baby in the house it would be, but what a joy!

It’s amazing what love we can have for a pet, and they do become like part of the family. Daisy fell a few weeks ago, unexpectedly. She wriggled and squirmed her way out of my husband Steen’s arms just as he was opening a door and ouch! She landed on the step, in front of the door. She yelped for quite a while, but eventually settled down. It became clear that the event had traumatised her deeply when she had a nightmare a few hours later and made the same heart-wrenching yelping sounds in her sleep. Even the next day after she woke, when she saw the step, the door and Steen all at the same time, she yelped relentlessly as if she was reliving the trauma.

We prayed for her, knowing that the Lord cares for His creation, and our precious little charge. After prayer, much TLC, gentle words, me (‘Mummy’) comforting her and helping her face her fear –the doorstep, and through Steen repeatedly holding her firmly but gently, her little being began to heal over some days, and now she is pretty much back to herself again.

It made me think of us as people and what happens when we experience trauma. We had a very demonstrative example of it with Daisy, but what happens to us as a baby, child, teen or adult when trauma hits, can change how we feel about others, God and life.

It was interesting to see little Daisy come to ‘Mummy’ lots after the trauma, and I had to hold her close to give her a feeling of security, safety and comfort in the days which followed. I couldn’t help thinking about the Lord’s promise to comfort us as a mother comforts a child. Feeling safe and receiving comfort seem to be a key part of recovery from certain traumas, and it was no different for Daisy. But what if we haven’t received that comfort from parents or guardians in our own lives?

The Lord wants to heal us from traumas we have experienced. In Isaiah 53:5 we read, ‘By His wounds we are healed’. Jesus made it possible, through His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection, for us to experience healing in every area of our lives.

In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 it says, ‘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’. God’s word encourages us to comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received. Comfort is mentioned quite a few times in the bible, and I believe it is key in our recovery from trauma, hardship and whatever life throws at us.

May you be encouraged today if you are struggling, that the Lord wants to comfort you and also use you to comfort others with the comfort you have received from Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You are the perfect parent. You want to comfort me, and for me in turn to comfort others. Help me to convey Your comfort when I meet others going through trauma or hardships. In Jesus’ name. Amen.