So far in this series we have considered the sharp pain of mourning and the importance of lamenting and expressing our loss. We now turn to the hope and joy of finding comfort which the second beatitude offers us as a promise, ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted’ (Matthew 5:4 NIV).
Recently I received a lovely card with the humorous words on it. ‘Did somebody say cake?’ I wonder what your favourite slice of cake is and if you have ever had a taste of Simnel cake?
Mary Berry offers a good recipe for a Simnel cake which traditionally has been eaten during spring time, around Mother’s Day, during Lent (on refreshment Sunday) and on Easter Sunday. The name has a Roman origin, meaning simila (fine flour). It is a light fruit cake that has marzipan baked in the middle and covers the top.
The cake contains many items that people may have given up for Lent and has 11 sugar balls on the top that represent the apostles, minus Judas, and one in the middle for Christ. The cakes simple ingredients, when brought together, offer up a slice of refreshment during a time of spiritual contemplation.
At this point I want to suggest a few scriptural ingredients and promises that when mixed together may represent a slice of comfort cake.
Hunger We bring our appetite for comfort before the Lord just as David cried out. ‘O Lord, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Saviour’ (Psalm 38: 21-22 NIV).
Complaints We express our sadness and laments with the hope of change. ‘What gain is there in my destruction?’ ‘Will the dust praise you?’ ‘Will it proclaim your faithfulness?’ ‘You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart will sing to you and not be silent’ (Psalm 30: 9-12 NIV).
Desert The book of Lamentations is a parched place bemoaning exile and without refreshment. However, we do find our oasis in (Lam 3: 22-23 NIV). ‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’
Renewal We cry for restoration. ‘Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old’ (Lam 5: 21 NIV).
Beauty God promises ‘to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair’ (Isaiah 61: 2-3 NIV).
Compassion God declares ‘Comfort, comfort my people.’ ‘The rough ground shall become level’ (Isaiah 40: vv.1.4 NIV).
The apostle Paul writes that God is full of compassion and comfort, ‘who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.’ ‘If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer’ (2 Corinthians 1: 3-7 NIV). Such comfort will give us a hope for the present and the future.
Presence We have a promise ‘Come near to God and he will come near to you’ (James 4:8 NIV), so granting us His personal presence.
For a moment think about your mourning and lament ….……….…………….?
Then recall how you found your comfort ……..…………………………………………?
Remember that Jesus and Paul suffered rejection, imprisonment, torture, death and so much more. As they found comfort they freely shared it with those they walked alongside. Yet not everyone seeks or finds human and divine comfort after their loss and complaint which is very sad but a reality in their lives.
In Genesis we read that Jacob put on sackcloth and mourned the loss of Joseph for many days. All his family went to comfort him but he refused to be comforted. ”No” he said, “in mourning will I go down to the grave to my son.” So Jacob continued to weep for Joseph (Genesis 37: 34 NIV).
‘Did somebody say cake?’
All the above ingredients have been mixed together ready to be applied to daily living. As we share slice of comfort cake may we allow the promises of scripture to flow over and through us as a healing balm.
May we continue to offer up prayers of complaint and thanksgiving. May we recall beautiful memories and moments from times past which reinforce the absence of a loved one and the loss of certain life experiences.
May we be still in the midst of our pain and complaint and know the personal presence of God Almighty. In times of reflection and quietness may we be renewed in confidence and strength as outlined in Graham Kendrick’s song: God of the Poor
Selah (pause to think about what you have just read)
Graham
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