Comfort

When I think of comfort, several images come to mind. I think of being in "the Shack" surrounded by close friends chatting about nothing. I think of my lake cabin at sunset and how the water sparkles in the fading light. I think about mac n'cheese, pudding and pepsi. I think about all of the things that give me physical and emotional comfort. I never think about things that make me unhappy or frustrated, things that I can't control and harsh words from people I care about.

Over the past couple of weeks though, I've realized that these are actually the things that give me true comfort. It's the trials in our lives and the bad things that happen to us that allow us to feel comfort in the good things. If all I ever drank was Pepsi then I would never realize how absolutely wonderful it is. It would just be something that I drank. I need to have experienced the sickening taste of Mt. Dew to appreciate the delicious taste of Pepsi.

Since I've started my adventure to find happiness, I've been able to completely understand what comfort is and how important it is in my life. Without the struggles that I've undergone, I would never have been able to identify the things that comfort me. Having had a lonely summer with almost no interaction with people my age, I realized how comforting it can be to have friends around you. Even if all you do with your friend is fight about the little things in life, at least you have someone to share your life with. If I hadn't had my heart broken (more than once), I would never have realized how comforting it is to know that their is always beauty in the healing and that you will always emerge a stronger person.

I think that the most important thing that I realized is that no matter how hard your life gets and how hopeless your life may seem, there is ALWAYS comfort in knowing that everything in this life is temporary. Your current circumstances are not forever. The only certain thing in life is change, and even if that change is intimidating or unexpected, it's comforting to know that it will always be there.

When I think about comfort, I also think about the song "Jesus bring the rain" by Mercy Me. Basically it says that we should pray for Jesus to bring the rain (or pain in our life) because it allows us to truly understand the great things around us. So for now, I'll keep praying for rain because I know that at the end of the storm, there will be a magnificent rainbow.

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again. Psalm 71:20-21