When Desperately Needing Comfort

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

I have spent most of my Christian life trying to comfort others with the word of God. Today I need that comfort. At 4:00 am this morning Renee and I brought my son-in-law, my daughter, and my two granddaughters to the airport. Today is the day they left, moving to Peru as missionaries. They worked with us in the ministry for over ten years and lived in the house next door to us for almost as long. We’ve lived side-by-side, played together, and spent countless hours with Madeline and Macy, watching them grow the last eight years. Danny and Stephanie planted a church in the last two years, and are now on to their next step of obedience to the Lord—missionaries. This has been a day we should be utterly proud of and we are. It is also one of the most painful days of my life. I can’t describe what I feel like, but I am hurting worse than anything I ever remember feeling.

So now I have to pull out all that counsel I have given to so many readers over the past eleven years and apply it in my life. I have to take the message Pastor Mac Hammond preached yesterday: the need to prosper in your mind and emotions and put it to work. 3 John 1:2 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”

I know that in time, I will have acclimated to this new season of life and that things will be great. But I want it now. I have a lot to do. I have to have my head together. People around me need me in a good functioning capacity. And so I will use that to help me pull through the tremendous loss I currently feel.

I am going to remind myself that you raise your children to live for and follow after God. I am going to remember that they are walking that out the best way they know how. I am going to remind myself that their life does not revolve around me. I am going to remind myself that we have had them with us all these years, while Danny’s parents—pastors and missionaries in Peru—didn’t get to. Now it is our turn to pass this precious gift of our children and grandchildren down to them to enjoy. Danny’s parents have stayed and served in Peru because of the call of God on their life. They will now get this added blessing that they so richly deserve.

Renee and I are shedding our tears. We will re-adapt our lives. We still have three other incredibly wonderful sons, daughters-in-law, and a grandchild that are so very precious to us. We have the most incredible church family that surrounds our life with such a rich love of God. And we have the call of God on our lives and so much to do before the day when Jesus returns. Everything will be alright and life will go on and be rich in blessing.

Change is inevitable, and when God directs it, it’s meant to bring about good! I will think on these things and the things that are good until I can feel God’s peace and comfort prevail within me.

The Holy Spirit is our comforter. God’s Word gives us instructions for receiving peace and comfort. So, as I have encouraged others, I also am going to be obedient to it.

Philip. 4:8-9 (KJV) “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

I am so thankful to Jesus for His grace and making a way for us to move forward in joy!

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt