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 affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we are comforted by God. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Continuing the theme of anxiety from last week, I often turn to a prayer in The Valley of Vision simply titled “Comfort”. It reminds me of all that God has done for me and has promised to me. I look to it not only for my own comfort but so that I might also heed Paul’s words above and take the comfort I receive from God and share it with others.

Giver of all good,

streams upon streams of love overflow my path.

Thou has made me out of nothing,

hast recalled me from a far country,

hast translated me from ignorance to knowledge,

                from darkness to light,

                from death to life,

                from misery to peace,

                from folly to wisdom,

                from error to truth,

                from sin to victory.

Thanks be to thee from my high and holy calling.

I bless thee for ministering angels,

                for the comfort of thy Word,

                for the ordinances of thy church,

                for the teaching of thy Spirit,

                for thy holy sacraments,

                for the communion of saints,

                for Christian fellowship,

                for the recorded annals of holy lives,

                for examples sweet to allure,

                for beacons sad to deter.

Thy will is in all thy provisions to enable me to grow in grace, and to be meet for thy eternal presence.

My heaven-born faith gives promise of eternal sight,

my new birth a pledge of never-ending life.

I draw near to thee, knowing thou wilt draw near to me.

I ask of thee, believing thou hast already given.

I entrust myself to thee, for thou hast redeemed me.

I bless and adore thee, the eternal God, for the comfort of these thoughts, the joy of these hopes.