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JESUS OUR COMFORTER
Stella Dhinakaran
Dearly beloved,
God is our divine Comforter. We read in Isaiah 25:4: You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.
Everyone passes through some kind of suffering in this world. We too had to walk through such paths in order to experience the agonies of the people and understand their pain. In particular, we can never forget the terrible loss of our beloved daughter Angel in our life.
When she was doing her high school, we used to leave her alone whenever we went out of station for ministry. She used to long for us. She would get headache and fever whenever she saw me packing my suitcase to go to other places. It was my sister, her husband and my father-in-law who used to take care of her.
Then my daughter completed her higher secondary studies. At that time, one day, we had to go out of station on ministry. On the night of May 20th 1986, sitting on her fathers lap, she pleaded to him like a little child saying, I have now completed my schooling. Please let me come with you tomorrow morning. Her fathers heart melted. He immediately made arrangements for her to accompany us. My daughter immediately ran and got ready by packing her suitcase. Alas! The next morning at 5.45 am, she was not in this world. She left us all in grief and went to the Lords Kingdom forever. How agonizing was this loss! But the Lord comforted us and strengthened us by His love.
At this juncture, one day, we sat down for family prayer in the morning. We were sad within, yet we sang praises to the Lord, read the Bible and began to pray. The special thing was that all of us were even then filled with the Holy Spirit. In the midst of the sorrow within us, we could feel the comfort of the Lord filling us according to the verse, When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul (Psalm 94:19).
All of us started praying by uttering aloud, Lord, we praise You. By His grace and mercy, the Lord came in our midst. Through my dear husband Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran who had the gift of prophecy, He spoke to us. He said, Dear children I too am afflicted along with you. The Bible says, In all their distress He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old (Isaiah 63:9).
What is said in the above verse happened that day. The presence of the Lord filled us and the Lord asked us, I have challenged the angels of heaven as well as the devil that My children will not forsake Me even in this state. Will you let Me down? All the four of us unanimously fell at His feet saying, Lord! What a joy that You are with us. This alone is a comfort in our sorrow. We commit ourselves to Your will whatever it may be. After this, immediately a divine strength filled us. The Lords presence and the power of the Holy Spirit gave us new encouragement, hope and strength.
At that time, a pastor lovingly invited us saying, It is enough that you have grieved; arise to do the Lords service. Since then till today, we have been serving God.
Yes, dear ones, each one of us needs to experience this divine strength in our life. Trust in the goodness of God and pour out your sorrows at His feet. He will wipe away your tears and restore comfort to you.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
I trust in Your goodness and pour out my sorrows at Your feet. Please fill me with Your divine presence and strengthen me by Your grace. Wipe away tears and restore comfort to my broken heart.
In Your matchless name I pray,
Amen.