dailydatewithgod

The well-known Christmas Carol originating in England, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” sings over and over about tidings of comfort and joy.  It is not too often that you hear people talk about bringing comfort to something.  Joy, happiness, peace are more commonly used ideas.  How many of us wake up and think about what comfort will come our way today?  We may not think it but we often approach life from the standpoint of what is most comfortable.  As human beings we have little bandwidth for the uncomfortable. Some of the synonyms for comfort are ease, convenience, pleasure, luxury, well-being, all things the world tells us to strive for.  But what does comfort in our hearts mean?  It is delight, encouragement, soothing, cheer, and even relief.  We tend to think of comfort in physical terms.  The moment I hear the word I think of a warm blanket and a hot cup of tea.  What would it mean to give and receive comfort from our hearts?  How might God be demonstrating comfort as we walk through the holiday season and all its craziness?  Statistically speaking more people are anxious about the holidays than excited.  That does not sound comforting.  Somehow I don’t think purchasing more luxurious or convenient items will aid in the reduction of anxiety, at least not in a lasting way.  What would it look like to bring comfort into an anxious world?  How might we use the energy of our hearts which God readily supplies with comfort and bring tidings of comfort and joy to a fellow human being or to ourselves?