God Still Loves You — Carter Conlon

Welcome again today to my kitchen, and this is our devotional time that we have entitled Why I'm Not Afraid. I'm just so thankful that you could be with us today, and just an opportunity just to encourage one another in the Lord.

God's Comfort in Times of Trial

It's a wonderful thing that God's given us that ministry. I want to talk to you from the Bible today, from the book of 2 Corinthians 6, verses 5 and 6, where the Apostle Paul says these words. For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side.

Outside were conflicts, and inside were fears. Nevertheless, God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. Now, we're living in a time of trial, difficulty, where there are fears.

The Ministry of Comfort Through God's Spirit

As Paul said, there are fears on the outside that causes fears on the inside of each one of us. But thankfully, God has given to you and I the ministry of comfort. It's one of the gifts, in a sense, of God's Spirit living inside of us, that we have a different perspective, even in times of crisis.

And we can bring that perspective to those who are struggling or down, or maybe losing heart or losing hope. I think of years ago, when we bought a church in Canada, in a little town called Riceville.

Persevering Through the Work God Gives Us

We were setting out to renovate this church. It was going to be a significant renovation expenditure, and a lot of labor was going to be necessary to restore it to its original condition. And so, as with all projects like this, we started out, and there was great gusto in the beginning, and there were a lot of people involved.

But it gradually, over the days and weeks, began to dwindle down, until one day, I found myself there all alone. You know, sometimes in the Christian life, we set out that way. We're going to have a new life.

Encouragement When We Feel Alone

We have this promise of new life, and we start to believe and move and build as we see it. And suddenly, we just one day find ourselves feeling very, very, very alone. And I think that's what the Apostle Paul must have felt, and those with him at these times in their life.

I remember one day in particular, I was really discouraged. And it was the end of the day, and I was the only one there working, and there was just seemingly so much to do. And as I was getting prepared to leave, I saw a silhouette of two little ladies, seniors, coming through the door of the church.

The Power of Unexpected Acts of Comfort

People who didn't attend the church. They were just members of the community. And in my discouragement, they walked up to me and they said, Pastor, the community is not the same since you've come here.

You're doing a great work. Don't be discouraged. And they handed me a folded up $50 bill and put it in my hand. And I tell you, on the strength of that encouragement, I carried on. And of course, the testimony is still there today.

And God did a great work in that area. So God's given us the ability to comfort. Look around today and see if there's somebody discouraged that you might bring comfort to. And remember, whatever you give, God says, I will give it back to you.

Press down, shaking together, and running over. Till tomorrow. Love you. God bless you.