God Of All Comfort

Hannah Whitall Smith knew firsthand the world's darkness and grief-but she was confident that "somewhere and somehow God [was] going to make everything right for all the creatures He has created." Her writings have often been censored to remove the more "heretical" portions, but her only heresy is her belief in Divine love, a love stronger than any obstacle. As a mother, she knew how much she loved her children-and she could not believe that God's love could be weaker than her own. "I began to see that the wideness of God's love was far beyond any wideness that I could even conceive of. . . if I took all the unselfish love of every mother's heart the whole world over, and piled it all together, and multiplied it by millions, I would still only get a faint idea of . . . the mother-heart of God." -Hannah Whitall Smith

"Over these eight lessons, our journey will take us through a section of Scripture titled 'The God of all comfort,' in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. The apostle Paul, the author of that letter and an expert when it came to suffering, lends insight and encouragement that God is not blind to our troubles. Along the way, we will meet faith-filled Christians who relied on faith despite their heartache"--P. [4] of cove

How does God respond to trauma in a world full of horrors? Beyond their physical and emotional toll, the horrors of this world raise difficult theological and existential questions. Where is God in the darkest moments of the human experience? Is there any hope for recovery from the trauma generated by these horrors? There are no easy answers to these questions. In God of All Comfort, Scott Harrower addresses these questions head on. Using the Gospel of Matthew as a backdrop, he argues for a Trinitarian approach to horrors, showing how God--in his triune nature--reveals himself to those who have experienced trauma. He explores the many ways God relates restoratively with humanity, showing how God's light shines through the darkness of trauma.

Together for the first time in one devotional, experience daily readings from such bestselling and respected voices as Frederick Buechner, Brennan Manning, Henri Nouwen, Eugene Peterson, James Bryan Smith, A. W. Tozer, Dallas Willard, and N. T. Wright. Faith That Matters was designed to help you confidently walk in faith every day of the year. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get lost in a never-ending list of projects and demands. We become distracted with what’s urgent instead of what matters most. And in the process, we lose sight of who we are . . . and who God is. Faith That Matters is a beautifully designed devotional that reminds us of the timeless truths of Scripture. Each reading offers powerful stories and inspiring insights from trusted Christian communicators such as: Frederick Buechner Brennan Manning Henri Nouwen Eugene Peterson James Bryan Smith W. Tozer Dallas Willard N. T. Wright All 365 devotions also include a relevant Bible verse, practical suggestions for living out that day’s reading, and a brief closing prayer. The variety of contributors provides a treasure trove of unique perspectives on issues ranging from God’s love, mercy, and hope to themes of grace, provision, and peace. These well-known authors have sold a combined total of millions of books. Now, for the first time, their writings have been brought together in one devotional. Whether you seek to understand the foundation of our faith tenets or simply need a daily dose of spiritual encouragement, your heart and soul will be refreshed anew with each reading. Draw closer to God every day of the year with Faith That Matters.

Generation after generation of readers have kept Hannah Whitall Smith's The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life in continuous print since its first publication in 1875. Many of them, however, never became well acquainted with similar gems of spiritual devotion that are found not only in her other published writings but also in the thousands of pages of unpublished letters and journals in which she recorded her spiritual journey. In 1982, through the kindness of her great-granddaughter, Barbara Strachey Halpern, the editors were given free access to the family's treasure lode of books, memorabilia, and manuscripts at her home in Oxford, England. The result was God Is Enough. The warm response generated by its first printing in 1986 and supported by the thousands who welcomed each additional printing thereafter indicates that the practical spiritual insights of this most widely read spiritual counselor of the nineteenth century still speak to us today.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 that God is the "Father of compassion and the God of all comfort." Is that really true? If God really does love me, why did He allow me to go through such horrible times of distress and pain? Why couldn't I have a "normal" life just like everyone else? After all, I wasn't really that bad of a person, was I? Hadn't I worked hard to turn my life around? Here my husband and I were now attending a good, Bible-teaching church, and I was learning more about Jesus and His love for me every day. We were finally ready to start a family after being married for ten years-I felt in my heart that I was now ready to become a mom. But then everything started to fall apart. This book is to let you know that no matter what you are facing, God, our Heavenly Father, is always right beside us, and when we keep our eyes on Him and trust Him, He will see to it that we are brought to a place where life can make sense. Was this story something that I dreamed about as a little girl? Far from it! Yet I can honestly say that I am more at peace today than I have ever been in my life. The God of all comfort is always right here, just waiting for me to draw near to Him, and He is waiting for you as well.

The God of All Comfort: A Bible Verse Journal for Women Journaling How Favorite Bible Verses Help You Face Pain and Suffering: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Father who is full of mercy, the God of all comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3 ERV) A Blank Page Journal for Documenting God's Comfort to You: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Father who is full of mercy, the God of all comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3 ERV - Easy to Read Version) Quotes from Scripture Promising the Peace of God: Christian women have been comforted throughout the ages by the promises found in God's Word. Bible verses comforting women experiencing pain and heartache. As you journal, these most loved passages of Scripture will give you hope, peace, and joy. Learning How Praising God Gives You a Positive Perspective on Negative Situations: "Praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. . .the God of all comfort." "Praise the LORD! He has heard my prayer for mercy. The LORD is my strength and shield. I trusted Him with all my heart. He helped me, so I am happy. I sing songs of praise to Him." (Psalms 28:6-7 ERV) "Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD because He is good! His faithful love will last forever! No one can describe how great the LORD really is. No one can praise Him enough." (Psalms 106:1-2 ERV)

Sure to give hope and courage to everyone, no matter where one may be in life's unpredictable journey. -Laura Magnin McDonald, MA, LPC, Co-founder of Christian Insight for Life Pain, suffering, grief and tears. Have you had days when it feels like the pain is never going away? Days when you wonder whether you'll ever feel normal again? Times when tears stream down your face nonstop? Drawing from her own experiences and seasons of grief, Linda Kennedy turns to Scripture to find meaning-and hope-amidst the pain. Like Job, you may find people telling you why things are happening to you as they are, but how can they really understand? How did Job respond, and what can we learn to help us through the confusion and doubt of our own pain? Joseph was betrayed time and again, leading to his slavery and unjust imprisonment. How did his dependence on God carry him through the darkest nights? Seasoned with modern-day examples from inspiring people like Joni Erickson Tada and Amy Carmichael, Healing Hurts will carry you gently, show you that you're not alone, and guide you to the One who can make sense of it all. Succinct chapters packed with Scripture, each concluded with thought-provoking reflection questions, make Healing Hurts an excellent resource for personal study or for small groups, support groups, and one-on-one discipleship mentoring. --- Excerpt from the Introduction: I definitely have had days when it feels like the pain will never go away. The minutes and the hours drag by at a snail's pace. I start to wonder if I will ever feel okay again. And then I look around at other people I know who are smiling and acting like they don't have a care in the world. And I start judging them-even though I really may not know them well at all. Why does it always seem like nothing bad ever happens to them? As if I know what's really going on in their lives ... Sometimes life just seems, well, cruel. You feel like every time you turn around more bad news hits. You make it through a severe illness and then you lose your job. Your mother comes to know the Lord and then your sister's child ends up getting killed. You finally reach retirement where you feel comfortable in your investments and the bottom falls out of the stock market. You and your husband finally are able to have children, and then you have a child that's disabled. Why me? But let me tell you, my friends, there is indeed hope. Because of the trials my husband and I have gone through, I often found myself pouring through the Scriptures trying to find morsels that might explain why all these things happened to me and my family. And you know what? I actually found a lot-but there were moments I didn't want to listen to them! So as you read this book, first pray that God would open your heart and mind, then hang on tight and prepare for healing. It may be hard to live through some of the things you have been trying to force out of your memory, but our God is greater than the trials and He does indeed have the answers you've been looking for. I pray as you work your way through this short book that you will be blessed-and I pray that you will allow God's healing balm to sink deep into your soul ... The healing process can sometimes really hurt, but it will all be worth it.