Episode 54: Fighting for Joy with the Comfort of God

“What a wonderful God we have—He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the One who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does He do this? SO THAT when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we undergo sufferings for Christ, the more He will shower us with His comfort and encouragement!” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 TLB

“God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in our troubles SO THAT we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT

On this episode, my husband Eric joins me to talk about God’s Comfort, specifically in the context of the verses above. “Sharing God’s Comfort with Others” was the focus of my last Fighting For Joy Live event (Episode #53) - and as we were preparing for that evening, and in the weeks following it, this topic stayed on the forefront of our minds. It has been such a key part of our help and healing in grief…both experiencing it AND sharing it with others. So listen in today as we share some of the things we’ve been thinking through, dig a little deeper into the passage, and talk about some of the ways that God has brought comfort to our broken hearts. I end the episode by encouraging each one of YOU to run to the God of all comfort in your hurt as well - and remind you that once you’ve experienced it, YOU TOO are then equipped to share the hope of God’s comfort with others who are struggling!

God has used the most broken parts of our story to help so many others. He will do the same for you and through you! Use this reminder to keep fighting for joy in your brokenness with the comfort of God! And THEN, seek to help others in their fight for joy, in their brokenness, by sharing the comfort you’ve received with them.

***I'm excited to tell you about a new (*unpaid) sponsor of the podcast: Access Period. Access Period is a nonprofit organization in Omaha that provides free menstrual products to anyone that needs them. Period Poverty, or the lack of access to menstrual products, affects one in four women. When people don't have access to the products they need, they either stay home from work and school, perpetuating the cycle of poverty, or they use unsafe and uncomfortable alternatives like toilet paper, socks, or cardboard.
Too often, period poverty is invisible, which makes it hard to connect with our neighbors who most need help. By supporting Access Period, you'll help to place menstrual products into the hands of the people who need them most, both through the organizations that already serve them, and through free pick-up locations throughout Nebraska.
If you're interested in learning more about Access Period, getting involved with fighting period poverty in your own community, or if you are someone who needs menstrual products, please visit www.accessperiod.com, or find them on Instagram @accessperiod.