Comfort and peace
by Rev Shigeo Sueoka
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Praise be to the … God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3,4).
The devotions for the coming week are taken from LCA International Mission’s 2021 ’40 Days – a Lenten Devotion and Prayer Guide’ and are written by mission partners around the world. LCA International Mission invites you to pray for God’s global mission and churches beyond our borders. You can download an electronic copy of the ’40 Days’ guide at the LCA International Mission website or request a printed copy by emailing lcaim@lca.org.au or phoning 08 8267 7330.
The spread of COVID-19 has meant worldwide sorrow and suffering for a huge number of people. Our regular daily life has been taken away, and we have to fit ourselves into a so-called new lifestyle. Our church life has also changed. Some congregations had to close their Christian gatherings and Sunday services. Thousands of people have lost their lives to the virus, and families have not been allowed to go close or see their faces at the funeral.
The fear of COVID-19 weakens our hearts. Social distancing makes us distant from each other. We shout to the Lord, ‘Why do you allow such things to happen? How long do we have to be patient?’ We need comfort and peace.
In this extraordinary year’s Lenten season, we remember the pain of Christ suffering on the cross. We will be led to the forgiveness of our sin and true peace by the suffering of Christ. We can put all our anxieties and troubles on him. You feel limited if you rely on yourself or focus on human actions. But the Scripture points out that Christ, who rose from the dead, is living with you now.
‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we receive from God’ (2 Corinthians 1:3,4).
Jesus Christ understands and accepts all our hardship and suffering because he has experienced all kinds of unreasonable suffering. That is why we again receive hope to live during this Lenten season. Your prayer in suffering brings you to joy and peace by the grace of the risen Christ.
Prayer: Pray for an end to the expansion of the virus as soon as possible. Pray for a cure for this world and the peace of Christ to those who are suffering in our neighbourhood.
Rev Shigeo Sueoka is from Kinki Evangelical Lutheran Church, Japan.
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