My Daily Walk with God

Jesus Is My Comforter

Discover twelve roles that Jesus fills in your life with the Women Discovering Jesus lessons, by Lea Hardy

In the mid-1800, in a little Pennsylvania town, Pastor Elisha Hoffman ministered to the poor and underprivileged. One day as he visited with a burdened woman, he tried to comfort her with prayer and Bible texts. The despairing woman seemed not to really hear him, for no matter what he said, she kept moaning, “Oh, what can I do? What can I do?”

Finally, Pastor Hoffman said to her, “The very best thing you can do is to tell Jesus all about it.” To his surprise, the woman’s face lit up, and she started repeating, “Yes, I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!” As the minister left her home, and for hours afterward, he could see her joyous face as she repeated those words, “I must tell Jesus.”

Unable to get her words out of his mind, Pastor Hoffman wrote a song when he got home. The hymn is sung in many places today and is a source of great comfort to those who sing it.

I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

(Public Domain copyright)

Jesus Offers Comfort

In the Bible we studied about a woman who suffered from a bloody flow for twelve years. Jesus healed her when she simply touched His robe. Although the woman was timid about admitting that she had touched Him, when she spoke to Jesus of her sickness, he had cheerful words for her.

1. What did Jesus say to this woman? (Matthew 9:22)
2. In the KJV, the Scripture text reads, “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith had made thee whole.” Read the versions given below and underline the word or phrase used instead of “comfort.”
   NIV: “Take heart, daughter; your faith has healed you.”
   Phillips: “Cheer up, my daughter, your faith has made you well.”
3. Name the things that the apostle Paul mentions in Philippians 2:1 that we may obtain from Christ.
4. What further advice does Paul give in Philippians 2:2, 3?
   Ellen White writes, “Through His human agencies He desires to be a comforter such as the world knows not” (The Ministry of Healing, Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1905, p. 105).
5. In what way does it comfort you to know that Jesus lived a humble life? Why?

The Father Also Comforts

1. What further words about comfort do we find in 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 (KJV)?
2. Does it surprise you that God the Father loves us and wants to comfort us?
3. Again, we find different words instead of "comfort" in other versions of the Bible. The NIV uses the words "good hope" and "encouragement." Do you feel that it would be comforting to you to have hope and encouragement?

Sometimes our earthly comforters change toward us, move away, or become negative through trials of their own. Isn't it a wonderful thing to realize that the comfort of God the Father and of Jesus is an eternal comfort? They want to make us steady and happy in Them.

In Steps to Christ (pp. 124-125), we find these words of comfort: "If we do not have the pleasures of this life, we may still be joyful in looking to the life beyond.

"But even here Christians may have the joy of communion with Christ; they may have the light of His love, and the perpetual comfort of His presence. Every step in life may bring us closer to Jesus, may give us a deeper experience of His love, and may bring us one step nearer to the blessed home of peace" (Ellen G. White, Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1892).

Another Comforter

1. When Jesus was about to leave His earthly ministry to return to heaven, what promise did He make to His followers? (John 14:16)
   The Comforter Jesus spoke of in this verse is the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit is able to dwell in all of our hearts if we only ask Him to, and don't crowd Him out with sin. Living in us, He enables us to follow Christ's example.
2. Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit would do something important for them and for us. Find out what it is in John 16: 13-15.

Lisa was brought up in a Christian home, but she married a man who was not a Christian. In an attempt to keep peace in her home, Lisa abandoned her early teaching and followed the ways of her husband. Several years passed and Lisa appeared to have forgotten those teachings. But God had not forgotten Lisa. A series of meetings was held in a church in town, and the Holy Spirit impressed to attend. She was reminded of many of the things her parents had taught her as a child. At the end of the series, a beautiful book was given to those who had all attended all the meetings.

Lisa was given a book. Taking it home, she found a quiet place where she could be alone, and reverently opened the volume. The words of the book, and the lovely pictures, made a way for the Holy Spirit to speak to Lisa. Soon tears streamed down her cheeks, and she determined to follow Jesus for the rest of her life. What comfort she found as she put those holy principles in her daily experience.

Jesus is the perfect Comforter, and through His Holy Spirit encourages me day by day.

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I just tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

Women Discovering Jesus: Twelve roles Jesus fills in your life, by Lea Hardy
"Jesus Is My Comforter," chapter 7, pages 21-23.