Gò0dNews for Everyone
Sifted Through The Father’s Hands
D
by Leslie Bennett
uring tough times in the South, there is nothing
Anything that happens to His children is first sifted through
better than some good ole comfort food: mac and
His hands.
cheese, fried potatoes, pinto beans, cornbread, and
of course, God’s Word. After frying up a big pan of potatoes this week and
How can we empathize with someone who is suffering if we have never experienced what they are feeling? How can we gain the trust and confidence of another
enjoying a good Southern meal, I spent some time in 2
human if we are not able to prove that we have been in their
Corinthians chapter 1. This particular section is titled
shoes, walked the same road, felt their pain?
“Comfort in Suffering.” Paul is speaking to the Church of
It is important that we are transparent with others. Just
Corinth. He begins by offering grace and peace from God
because we know Christ as our Savior does not mean we
the Father.
are exempt from suffering. Our lives aren’t always a bed of roses. We do face tribulation. Those who do not know Jesus need to see that Christians are not perfect. We fail. We make mistakes. We sin. The difference is this: we serve a perfect Savior. He loves us unconditionally. He forgives. He picks us up, dusts us off, and sets us on the right path. God not only forgives us, but He also comforts us in our suffering so that we may comfort others
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who are suffering. Those people are all around us. If we
the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts
are sensitive to the needs of others, we will recognize them,
us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort
reach out to them, and share our stories.
those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (3-4). I have always believed that God allows us to experience, sometimes even suffer, things so that we may be able to help
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). Receive comfort. God knows.
others who are facing the same or similar circumstances. He does allow things to touch our lives for a purpose.
40 // October 2020
About The Author
God doesn’t always cause things to happen to us, but Leslie Bennett is a kindergarten assistant at Michigan Avenue School. She is a member of First Baptist Church and sings in the adult choir. She manages a blog at ohyesshedid.org.
