Our only comfort

My heart is so sad for my dear family right now... the loss of my brother and his wife's eighteen week old twin baby boys today has been filling my mind and prayers all day long. If you read this please pray for Chris and Jackie to be comforted and begin healing. The deepest comfort is knowing that God is not aloof to the pain and the suffering, that He is not surprised by these events, but is mercifully and gently leading them through this... that He has suffered, as Hebrews 4 reminds us:

¹⁴Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The following catechism is one that we've learned in worship at Mercy Presbyterian. It is so reassuring to remember what our sovereign God is still in control even when our hearts are broken.

Christian, what is thy only comfort in life and death?

"That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him." - Heidelberg Catechism, question one