Finding God’s Comfort in Unexpected Places

Finding God’s Comfort in Unexpected Places
Monday, May 6, 2024 by Melissa McLaughlin

Finding God’s Comfort in Devastating Loss

His story caught my attention, and a lump caught in my throat. I was listening to a sermon on the radio. The pastor shared about a family vacation where his young son was hit by a car and died within minutes of the accident. He and his wife were stunned.

They expected their vacation to bring refreshment and family bonding. Instead, they faced inexplicable grief and heartbreaking family loss. They were crushed. It was difficult for them to process this devastating reality. Through tears and moans, the pastor cried out to the Lord for comfort.

And I will never forget what he said next.

As the pastor turned to Scripture, his eyes fell upon this verse.

Joshua 21:45 – Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass. (ESV)

The Holy Spirit highlighted this verse to the pastor, and God’s peace, which passes all understanding, descended upon him. The healing balm of Almighty God flowed through this Bible verse to soothe his aching soul.

Yes, the pastor still wept, but the heavy cloak of despair began to lift in that moment.

Are God’s Promises for Me?

As I listened, I marked that verse in my Bible. Yet, I couldn’t understand how this little verse brought consolation to the pastor in his darkest hour.

Certainly, God had fulfilled His promises to Israel. But how had God fulfilled His promises to this pastor? That question lingered in my heart with no clear answer.

Finding God’s Comfort in His Word

Recently, I stumbled upon this verse again during my Bible reading. The words jumped off the page, and I remembered the pastor’s experience with fresh revelation.

Somehow, what I couldn’t see years ago became crystal clear today.

This tiny verse, Joshua 21:45, represents the culmination of God’s abundant promises.

God’s Promises from the Beginning

Beginning in Genesis, God promised Abraham countless descendants, from whom every nation of the earth would be blessed. Additionally, God promised land for His people (Genesis 12:1-2, Genesis 13:15, Genesis 15:18, Genesis 17:8, Genesis 22:17).

God chose to bring salvation and blessings through the Israelites, and He also promised them a certain area of land. As we ponder this, we must remember, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1). God is the Creator. He sets the terms. Thankfully, He is a God of salvation for all who will believe.

Later in Exodus, God raised up Moses to lead His people to the promised land (Exodus 6:6-8). After God performed extraordinary miracles in Egypt, Pharoah set God’s people free, only to track them down to the Red Sea. Here God parted the waters, and His people walked forward on dry ground.

For the next forty years, God patiently guided His people through the wilderness despite rebellion, complaining, and doubt. Following Moses’ death, God appointed Joshua to the lead the Israelites.

Under Joshua’s leadership, the Israelites again witnessed God’s great miracles providing them victory over the enemies of God. Finally, they settled into the land God promised His people hundreds of years prior.

With that long view of the journey, suddenly the verse from Joshua, which meant so much to the pastor, carried a weight I had previously missed. Here are the surrounding verses.

Joshua 21:43-45 – 43 So the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. 44 The Lord gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.

Finding God’s Comfort in Unexpected Places

The amazing truth is just as God upheld His word and brought His people to the promised land long ago, so He will lead His followers to the eternal promised land today. In due time, all His plans will be accomplished. For God is the Eternal LORD who does not lie. If God spoke it, then it will be.

Therefore, we have hope. Even in deepest sorrow or soul-shattering anguish. Through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are assured our heavenly promised land awaits, won for us by our Savior. In Him every promise is “yes” and we say “amen” to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 1:20)!

Now I see how a brokenhearted pastor found comfort in this unexpected place. God fulfilled His promise to the pastor who lost his son, by sending His only Son to prepare the way to heaven. The spiritual truth of this verse rippled out from the pastor’s heart to mine. And I hope it has rippled on to you, as well.

Do you have a Scripture that has comforted you? Are you going through a difficult time? Ask God to show you a Scripture to anchor you in Christ. He will show you the way. Maybe in an unexpected place.

Bible Study

Finding God’s Comfort in Unexpected Places
Monday, May 6, 2024 by Melissa McLaughlin

Finding God’s Comfort in Devastating Loss

Are God’s Promises for Me?

Finding God’s Comfort in His Word

God’s Promises from the Beginning

Finding God’s Comfort in Unexpected Places

Previous Posts

Subscribe to get Melissa's free, uplifting blog posts by email.
Get your free Scripture prayer for signing up!

Bible Study

Finding God’s Comfort in Unexpected Places Monday, May 6, 2024 by Melissa McLaughlin

Finding God’s Comfort in Devastating Loss

Are God’s Promises for Me?

Finding God’s Comfort in His Word

God’s Promises from the Beginning

Finding God’s Comfort in Unexpected Places

Previous Posts

Subscribe to get Melissa's free, uplifting blog posts by email.Get your free Scripture prayer for signing up!

Finding God’s Comfort in Unexpected Places
Monday, May 6, 2024 by Melissa McLaughlin

Subscribe to get Melissa's free, uplifting blog posts by email.
Get your free Scripture prayer for signing up!