Hunger 5.5.21

Real Life Devotional Series “Hunger” -Week 3 - Wednesday, May 5, 2021
Lori Ennis
The Hands And Feet

“...Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” II Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)

Of the moment a friendship is born, C.S. Lewis said, “What? You too? I thought no one by myself…”

There’s something about knowing we’re not alone that brings us comfort when we’re struggling and suffering.

And when life throws everything at you that it can--it’s the church that offers comfort that we can’t get anywhere else. In fact, it’s the church acting as the hands and feet of Jesus that carries us through.

After our first son died, the last place I wanted to be was in our Adult Bible Fellowship group at church. We were studying ‘When Bad Things Happen To Good People’. The irony of our study was not lost on us.

We knew that going back to church after he died was exactly what we needed, though, and so we did. I’ll never forget two weeks after Matthew died, sitting around the study table with our leader and dear friend reading, “Have you ever known someone who had something tragic happen and you asked yourself, ‘Why them, God?’”

The room was silent as his face reddened and he started to cry with us. And then, one by one, everyone gathered around us and cried with us too. Our hearts needed that.

You see, we gather to worship God and to learn how to take our love for Jesus and His people to those who need Him. While we all need Him, sometimes, it’s those in the church who are the neediest. Gathering together builds a community and bond that feels like family and when your family is wounded? You’re there to be His hands and feet and help them through. Because you know and experience the grace of God’s goodness that comes from consistent corporate gathering, you’re able to share it and comfort those with a balm that only He can provide.