Somewhere, someone is hurting as the world around them revs up for the holiday festivities.
Someone is adjusting to life after a big transition.
Someone is struggling to pay bills.
Someone is grieving the loss of a loved one.
Someone is wrestling with fear or anxiety after an unexpected health diagnosis.
Someone is battling disease or struggling with pain management.
Someone is feeling rejected, lonely, forgotten, insignificant.
Someone doesn’t know how to tell their family they just lost their job, their home, their spouse, their unborn child.
We can add so many things to this list of circumstances causing someone to suffer.
You may know that someone who is hurting this Christmas.
You may even be that someone today.
If not, we can be sure that any one of us could be that someone tomorrow.
So, how can we find the comfort we need when Christmas comes with heartache?
“My comfort in suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” Psalm 119:50 (NIV)
As I prayed over this verse, I thought about the physical and emotional pain my family endured over the last year. Some of our heartaches and trials will roll over into the coming year.
Longing to gain a deeper perspective, I prayed over the psalmist’s declaration of faith, searched other translations, and found a spirit-refreshing nugget of hope that solidified my peace.
The New Living Translation says: “Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.” Psalm 119:50 (NLT)
The English Standard Version says: “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.” Psalm 119:50 (ESV)
The International Standard Version says: “This is what comforts me in my troubles; that what you say revives me.” Psalm 119:50 (ISV)
The Word English Bible says: “This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has revived me.” Psalm 119:50 (WEB)
God’s promise is what He says . . . His Word!
Yes!
God’s promise revives ̶ renews, restores back to life, makes operative again, brings back ̶ my life.
God’s promise preserves ̶ keeps alive, makes lasting, keeps safe, protects, maintains ̶ my life.
God’s promise assures us that He loves us and never leaves us.
His love is unconditional, “absolute, free from imperfection, pure, complete, without limits” (Dictionary .com).
His presence is unrelenting, “not yielding or swerving in determination, not easing or slackening” (Dictionary .com).
God alone is able and available to handle anything and everything that happens to land on our list of afflictions.
Even while we are right smack in the middle of heart wrenching circumstances, we can trust God to be our strength, our peace, our enduring hope, and our constant and complete Giver of comfort.
Hallelujah!
God of All Comfort, thanks for using Your Holy Word to reveal Your unchanging character, Your unconditional love for us, and Your unrelenting presence with us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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REVIVE Your Prayer Life!
Pause for Prayer with Xochitl Dixon introduces Revive Your Prayer Life: An Interview with Amy Boucher Pye, Our Daily Bread writer, speaker, spiritual director, and author of the award-winning Finding Myself in Britain, The Living Cross, Celebrating Christmas: Embracing Joy through Out and Reflection, and 7 Ways to Pray.
Join me for Revive: 31-Days of Spirit-Refreshing Biblical Encouragement and Prayers on my Instagram page and subscribe to Pause for Prayer, my YouTube channel, today!
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EXCLUSIVE BOOK GIVEAWAY FOR MY BLOG SUBSCRIBERS!
TO ENTER: Let me know where you are from when you leave a comment under this blog post and you will be entered for your chance to receive a free copy of 7 Ways to Pray: Time-Tested Practices for Encountering God, written by my fellow Our Daily Bread Writer Amy Boucher Pye, and a free signed copy of my 31-day devotional, Waiting for God: Trusting Daily in God’s Plan and Pace. Must be a U.S. Resident to be eligible for this giveaway.
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I’m looking forward to growing with you as we remain rooted in God’s Word and growing with God’s people.
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Are you looking for a gift that will have lasting spiritual impact on someone you love?
Different Like Me, one of five children’s books chosen as a finalist for the 2021 ECPA Christian Book Awards, celebrates our differences and our sameness as God’s beautifully diverse and purposefully connected image-bearers. In Different Like Me, a diverse group of children join forces to help a friend and discover that God created everyone to be different and special so we can serve together for His glory!
In Waiting for God: Trusting Daily in God’s Plan and Pace, I will guide you through 31 days of spirit-refreshing devotions. We will inhale God’s Word, exhale in prayer, and rest in God’s love as we trust Him for healing, for provision, and for miracles when the wait feels endless.
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Xochi, I find your posts inspiring every day. I live in Grass Valley CA.
Thanks for your faithfulness in prayer and for always showering me with God’s love. I’m so glad you’re a member of my blog family! Thanks for entering for your chance to receive the books in this special giveaway.
I live in Modesto, California, and am so grateful for your posts.
Thanks for your encouragement, Patti. You are not far from me, now that I’m back in California. I appreciate you being a member of my blog family and am so happy that you have entered for a chance to receive the books in this special giveaway! Merry Christmas, Sister!
I already have your book, but if I am blessed to be the winner, I’d give a copy to a friend. Amy is one of my favorite Our Daily Bread writers. I’d love to win a copy of her book, too! But if I don’t win, I will certainly buy it myself. I live in Maryland.
Thanks for your encouragement and support, Margie! I love Amy’s heart for God and people. I hope you will take a moment to watch Revive: An Interview with Amy Boucher Pye. She truly is a blessing. Thanks for entering for your chance to receive the books in this special giveaway. And thank you for being a part of my blog family!
Dearest Xochi
Many Thanks again for these Reminders of finding Complete Comfort in Our Heavenly Fathers Word & Promises!
From your friend in uk ( you write about me in Waiting for God – Chapter Waiting Like a Warrior
May I take this opportunity to Wish you and your Family a Blessed and Joyful Christmas and Prayer filled Blessed New Year… Love Lynda
Oh, Linda! I have been thinking about you and praying for you, Sister. I am so grateful for your message! Thanks for being a beautiful testimony of faith in our loving Savior. Merry Christmas!
Over the last two years I have become familiar with both of you through Facebook, blogs, and Our Daily Bread. You’re writing and insights have helped me deal with becoming a new widow and then learning more about God’s guidance and love as I grow into my new life. You inspire me and help me understand many things that before were just ignored as I was busy caring for my husband. I am thankful that I have your writing, and that of other female to help me as I move forward in my faith and my life journey. Blessings to you both!
Thanks for sharing with such courageous honesty, Ruthann. I am so sorry for your loss, Sister. I’m praying for you as God leads you through this difficult season of transition. I am glad you are a member of my blog family!
I love this interview with my two favorite “Our Daily Bread” authors! – Roz (Orlando, Florida)
Thanks for your kind words, Rosalind. I’m so glad you are a member of my blog family. Thanks for entering for your chance to receive the books in this special giveaway.
Thanks for your inspiring, heartfelt, and transparent writings.
Thanks for your encouragement, Carlond. To God be the glory! I am glad you are a member of my blog family!
So grateful for all of the kind words here, and of course to Xochi for hosting this giveaway! Praying blessings on lovely readers who feel like friends!
Thanks for sharing 7 Ways to Pray with us, Amy. I’m announcing the recipient of this exclusive book giveaway today!