This post is part of the series His Encouragement
Other posts in this series:
Welcome! Welcome, dearest friends, to His Encouragement: Biblical Inspiration for Your Thursday. Every Thursday, a few blogging friends and I will each bring you a Bible passage and a little hope-filled discussion. We pray that these Thursday posts help you end your week strong in God’s love and purpose for you. We also welcome you to join the conversation by commenting with your thoughts. God bless!
Today’s Encouragement
“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 affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
— 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, ESV
We have had a very crazy two weeks. Last week you may have noticed that no Thursday Encouragement was posted, and that is because early last Wednesday, my dad rushed my mom (who is battling Stage IV Breast Cancer) to the emergency room as she seemed to be showing signs of a stroke. I was nearly to the office when I got my dad’s phone call, and so we hurried to the hospital. My sisters and I spent the entire day with my parents as Mom went through a battery of tests and scans to determine what was going on. She had CT scans, MRI, EKG, EEG, and more. Praise the Lord, it turns out that she did not have a stroke. She had fallen three weeks prior and bumped her head. She had gone to a different hospital to be checked out and was told she had a little bruising on her brain but was otherwise fine.
The neurologist at this hospital determined that the bruising, which had not lessened in three weeks, had caused pressure on key areas of the brain, resulting in stroke-like symptoms. She was given some medicine for the pain and a blood transfusion to help expedite the healing process. By the time she was discharged on Friday, she was feeling much better and her strength had returned. Mom spent the weekend resting at home, and then return to her cancer treatments on Monday.
There was a span of time early Wednesday morning when we were all holding our breath, praying that it was not a stroke or sign that her body was shutting down from the cancer. It really could have gone either way, and there were times my dad, sisters, and I fought back tears. We put on happy faces and tried to sound unconcerned so as not to add to Mom’s stress and anxiety, as she was already terrified.
That is why I chose 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 for today’s encouragement. Sometimes in this life we face terrifying circumstances that are completely out of our control. Yet the Bible says that our God is God of all comfort and the Father of mercies, “who comforts us in all our affliction”. We are not supposed to hoard this comfort all to others, though. He expects us to share this comfort with others.
So, my friend, no matter what terrifying situation you are going through right now, please know that God loves you, He cares for you deeply, and He offers comfort in your time of affliction and sorrow. You do not have to be afraid or go through this alone.
Now it is your turn! How does today’s verse encourage you? What verse or passage is blessing you today?
Be sure to also visit my fellow bloggers and read their encouragement for your Thursday as well:
- Trisha of Joy of Reading
- Nicole of The Christian Fiction Girl
- Jessica of A Baker’s Perspective
- Becca of The Becca Files
- Jenny Lynn
Hi there, blogger. Would you like to join us in sharing encouragement from the Word of God every Thursday? Don’t be shy! Contact Trisha or Nicole today!
Continue reading this series:
His Encouragement: All I could do is sing
I really, really needed to read this post today. I am so glad your mom is doing better and getting her energy back. So glad to hear she did not have a stroke. And, I’m so glad you’ve posted this verse today.
I needed the reminder that God is with us in our afflictions. I’ve been having a tough couple of days. Can’t seem to get out of my funk. My normal things to do when I feel this way don’t seem to be doing the trick. But, this verse today is helping!
Praying for you and your mom!
Thank you so much for your prayers. I am glad that the Lord brought 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 to my attention this week, as I definitely needed the encouragement. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, too. May God bless and comfort you!