Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD’s hand
double for all her sins. Isaiah 40: 1-2

These specific words were written at a specific time to a specific person to comfort a people in specific circumstances. Yet they are God’s words for eternity to His people, all His people. You and I are not in that other time or place, yet these words tell us about God and His interaction with His people, us.

Our God wants to comfort us. He speaks “tenderly.” Can you hear or feel His tender message of comfort? He knows how fragile you are, so He uses just the right gentle voice so you won’t be broken or alarmed into a panic reaction. He knows you need tenderness in your present circumstances.

He says your “hard service” has been completed. Yes, He knows it is very hard service, indeed, this grieving. It takes so much energy. It robs your attention from other responsibilities, so you can’t always carry all the responsibilities you used to carry. And it’s hard service to be faithful through the grief. This trying to grieve and “not sin” (Ephesians 4:26) is difficult. This grieving yet being “thankful in every circumstance” (I Thessalonians 5:18). This is a sacrifice and it’s a hard service to Him.

But He says it’s complete. Now, I’m not sure it is completed for each of you at this moment. But this verse does imply that there is an end eventually. That thought alone brings a little comfort – it won’t always be this bad!

The Word says “her sin has been paid for.” That’s a comfort. If you sometimes feel you did something wrong with or to your child, if you feel you failed to do something you should have done or wanted to do but hadn’t gotten around to it yet, your “sin has been paid for.” If you are feeling like you are not grieving like a good, believing Christian should, your “sin has been paid for.” If you said words to someone a couple days ago that you never would have said without the grief weighing on you, your “sin has been paid for.” If you are having trouble believing God is good, your “sin has been paid for.” If you can imagine any other offense that I haven’t mentioned here, your “sin has been paid for.” It does not need to be a burden to you any longer because your “sin has been paid for.”

This Word says you have received double for your sins. Now I’m not exactly sure what that means. But since the line above says your “sin has been paid for,” it can’t mean you’ll get a double dose of punishment for each of your sins. I think it means you’ll get a double dose of His grace, abundant grace, for each day’s challenges.

What a tender, forgiving, understanding Comforter we have access to. You are invited to “come boldly before the throne of grace to get help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Whatever your need is now, there is grace for it, and a tender Comforter.

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“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me….

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. …

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14: 1-3, 6, 15-18, 25-27

After last week’s message, which seemed somewhat heavy, we need some good news this week! This passage begins and ends with – “don’t let your heart be troubled.” Why would your heart be troubled: confusion, sorrow, maybe anger, death and loss, changes and surprises in grief, and so on and on. Between the bookends of “Don’t be troubled,” are words like believe God, preparations and a whole lot of togetherness: He with us, us with Him.

The Father has a house with many guest rooms which are ready for guests – and we’re invited. When it’s time, He comes to escort each guest home – your child already, you at the right time. Between now and then, Jesus promises to send us Someone – called by several names: the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit. Jesus is not willing to leave us alone, like an orphan. He provides us with an Advocate and Comforter. One of the functions of the Comforter described here is to teach us “all things” – like how to live through this grief! You don’t have to do it alone. He will come to you.

Jesus gives us this promise of a home ready for us and this promise of Someone to be with us through all we go through. He gives “not as the world gives.” That means He gives freely, without mixed or selfish motives, generously. There is only one small condition – that we listen and follow Him. Considering the benefits (home and His presence) it’s not a big cost to us. The result is Peace. Not trouble in your heart, but Peace there. Even through this grief. Peace.

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