I do not like it when my baby cries.

There are multiple types of cries, and like everyone predicted, I can differentiate between them. The worst type of cry is when she’s scared. It is the most pitiful sound in the entire world, and I immediately want to do everything within my power to soothe her. This cry invokes some sort of new sensation inside of me and all I can think about is how I can give her comfort.

As much as I loathe the feeling of watching my baby girl suffer, I love being the one who provides comfort. There is nothing as satisfying as calming her down, watching her relax in my arms and feel the comfort I’m providing. I love being the one who can make everything ok. I love that I’m that person for her. I love that she lets me. Well, I love when she lets me. She doesn’t always comply. Sometimes, even though I know what she needs and know how to soothe her, she refuses to be calmed. She resists me, her parent! And oh, it’s frustrating.

It was in the midst of one of these moments that I realized how frustrating it must be to God when we resist His comfort. You and I often find ourselves in moments of suffering. We experience grief, fear, and hurt on a regular basis. We go through this life and get banged up along the way, because our enemy is looking to beat us down. Through it all, our God – our Father – wants to comfort us. Yet, we often resist. We resist the God of ALL comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). How frustrating! Especially since He knows exactly what we need to be comforted.

The biggest lesson I’m learning through motherhood is that I am exactly like my baby girl most of the time. I resist God, even though He knows what is best for me. I attempt to do things my own way, time after time, even though the results are continually disappointing. I get caught up in trying to fix things myself – comfort myself – that I don’t realize I’m resisting the comfort of my Father in heaven.

If I love providing comfort to my baby girl, how much more so must God love providing comfort to His children? After all, He is the originator of comfort. We are robbing Him of so much joy when we resist His comforts.

Isaiah records the words of the Lord and His love for His people in chapter 66:

 For thus says the Lord:

“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.
Then you shall feed;
On her sides shall you be carried,
And be dandled on her knees.
As one whom his mother comforts,
So I will comfort you;
And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” (v. 12-13)

Notice that God wants to comfort us like a mother comforting a child. And y’all, that desire is real! It is strong!! Don’t rob our amazing God of this joy by seeking comfort elsewhere, or by flat out refusing or resisting His comfort. Instead, seek to be comforted by Him. Seek His word and find comfort in it (Psalm 119:50, 52). Cast all of your cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7) and allow Him to give you comfort.

Psalm 94:19 says, “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.” This is my prayer for us all. Life is going to be difficult. Anxieties will come. But when they do, let our comfort come from God and let that be our joy.

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!