Comforting others

Derek rushed to the bathroom as he heard a loud thud. He was wondering what the sound was, but not for long – Cathy was on the floor, writhing in pain.

“Sweetheart!”, he shouted, trying to pull his wife, Cathy, up from the bathroom floor. He rushed back to get his phone and called an ambulance. In less than five minutes, a paramedic was knocking on the door of their apartment. Cathy was rushed to the emergency ward of a hospital.

Derek observed as various medical personnel attended to Cathy, but they could not figure out what the problem was yet.

“We are waiting for the results of your blood and urine samples. You will need to get a scan done, after which you will see the doctor”, a nurse explained to them. By now, Cathy was feeling a little better.

“Mrs Cathy, your results show that you are a few weeks pregnant. However, the fertilized egg was implanted on the wall of your right fallopian tube, which has now ruptured. The fallopian tube and ectopic pregnancy will need to be removed through a laparoscopy. Please read this and sign below”, the doctor calmly explained, and handed her a sheet to sign. “Do you have any questions?”, she asked.

Everything happened so fast. Cathy didn’t even have the time to process the unexpected news of her pregnancy, not to mention the emergency surgery she would be having. But through it all, she experienced the peace of God and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. She and Derek healed quickly – both physically and emotionally – and moved on with their lives.

Two years later, a close friend was having a difficult time coping with the loss of her pregnancy through miscarriage. Derek and Cathy visited the family and shared their own experience and the peace and comfort they enjoyed from God. The family was very grateful for the encouragement and support.

The presence and peace of God makes all the difference when we go through difficult times. I, even I, am He who comforts you (Isaiah 51:12).

When we go through trials and overcome, we are able to empathize with others when they go through trials too. Through our experiences, they can be comforted, knowing that the same God who helped us, can help them too.

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 tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).