It is understandable that many people think that God’s ministers live on a higher plane than most people but the truth is they are basically no different than the average child of God. I was thinking about this recently after a dream I had about one of our church members. In the dream, she called me from her hospital bed to assure me that she was there but was doing alright. In reality, this dear lady has been in and out of the hospital for an unusually long period of time. In the dream, when I heard her voice my initial thought was “what can I possibly say to her that will actually help her?” Because I’m just as human as everyone else, my first thought, even in the dream, almost tempted me to apologize to her for the trial she has endured. I immediately thought “That’s a mistake. How can we apologize for Someone who never does anything wrong?” 

       That’s all I remember about that specific dream but as I thought about what the Lord wanted to remind me of, I immediately remembered Paul’s initial thought in his second letter to the Corinthians. I was thinking primarily about these words: “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 same comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Cor. 1:3-4)

       And that’s my message to you today: I want to remind you that when confronted with loved ones or friends who are going through a difficult trial, the one thing they need the most is comfort, the same one God has sustained us with in our own times of affliction. The last thing these dear souls need at such times is a bible study, or the old worn-out cliché “I know what you’re going through.” Neither should we ask them “are you sure you have faith?” or say like Job’s friends, “Are you sure there’s not unconfessed sin in your life?” No, no, a thousand times, no! These folks need to be comforted, and if you just happen to be with them, just hold them tight. A good old fashioned loving hug at a time like this is better than a thousand words. Need a good hug today but there’s no one around? Imagine that the Lord is hugging you right now. After all, He is! As a beautiful line from a “Casting Crowns”  song says: [  So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away / You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held / Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place / I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held ]

 God’s promise for today: (Deuteronomy 33:27 a) “The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms.”