To Zimbabwe with Love

Advent Comfort

"Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God." Isaiah 40:1

     Whatever your circumstances, open your heart to God's tender comfort. This divine comfort is the real thing and is nearer to you than your own breathing. Such positive and wholehearted comfort is urgently needed in Zimbabwe.

     Isaiah 40:1 is written in an emphatic, repetitive imperative form. God's comfort is not a suggestion or merely a good idea, but a divine order. Such sacred repetition is meant to impress precious truths into our hearts and minds.

     Today's precious truth is God's gentle voice comforting a broken world, a hurting humanity, and a creation groaning in pain and suffering. This certainly seems to describe Zimbabwe, where so many are dying of disease and starvation. Rather than succumb to hopelessness and helplessness, generously share God's comfort and you will find strength for your own situation, whether it be in plenty or in want.

     The Hebrew word, nacham, reflects the idea of "breathing deeply," with the physical display of one's feelings, usually sorrow, compassion, or comfort. The meaning of nacham as found in Isaiah 40:1, is "to comfort" and "to be comforted." So be comforted and share your comfort with others with every breath.

Nacham is found throughout the Bible when family and friends attempt to comfort the bereaved for a death of an infant child (2 Samuel 12:24), a favorite teenage son (Genesis 37:35), a beloved mother (Genesis 24:67), a cherished wife (Genesis 38:12), and as a mother comforts her child (Isaiah 66:13). Even the beloved psalmist uses this familiar word in Psalm 23:4-"Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."

     Nacham is also used to describe God's immense and intensely personal comfort to a suffering humanity (Psalm 71:21; 86:17; 119:82; Isaiah 12:1; 40:1; 49:13; 52:9). God's warm and tender compassion comes from a derivative of nacham.

     The God of hope comes in many disguises, often through the presence of ordinary people. Be comforted and comfort one another through your prayers and when possible, with your physical presence. Let God speak tenderly to your spirit. God will never leave you stranded in a confused world, torn apart by difficult circumstances. God cares about you and will help you get through the crisis.

     God's Spirit will help you pray. It is not accidental that another beloved name for the Holy Spirit is, "Comforter" (John 14:16, 26; 15:26 and 16:7). Let the Comforter comfort you today and in the days ahead. And may the nacham of God pervade your body, mind and spirit. May you walk securely in God's comfort, reassured with every breath.

     Prayer: Comforting God, speak to my heart. Provide for my deepest needs. Sustain those I love in all situations. Comfort the living and dying in Zimbabwe. May Your nacham saturate Zimbabwe and bless all suffering humanity this Advent season. Amen.

Written by Rev. Dr. Sandy Bochonok
http://soulfoodministry.org
December 5, 2002
Permission is given to freely distribute this reflection throughout Zimbabwe.