Comfort through sorrow

How can you truly describe God's comfort until you experience it for yourself?

I was blessed to experience it the last few days.

But in order to truly experience His comfort, you need a trial or difficulty to understand the sweetness of His comfort: much like going through the valley makes the mountaintop so much more beautiful and grand.

Friday was a valley.

My grandpa's cancer had returned with a vengeance a few weeks ago, causing a rapid decline in his health. Thursday the nurse told us she didn't expect him to make it through the weekend. Friday morning we went to sit with him for a while. While he slept I held his hand and told him that I loved him. I fought off the urge to cry until after we told my grandma and uncle goodbye. The first step out the door and I gave in to the tears. On the way home I cried until I felt empty (not empty in a hopeless sorrow, but empty of tears and tired) but filled with God's peace.  It was such an encouragement to know that God was answering the prayers of so many that were praying for our family, in a very real and comforting way.

Saturday morning, Grandpa slipped from sleep into the arms of Jesus. When mom told me that he had passed on, I couldn't even cry. There was no reason to weep for him, because he was now free of cancer and in our Father's presence. I sat in my room for a while listening to mercyme songs "Finally Home", "I can only Imagine", "Bring the Rain", and "My Heart will Fly", surrounded by the peace and comfort of His promise, keeping in mind 2 Corinthians 5:8:  "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." I felt protected in His arms in that quiet time. I can't thank Him enough for His amazing... Person, I guess is the word.

I made it through work, only tearing up a few times~ and those tears were from my co-workers' kindness (God has blessed me with a great workplace). During break I had many encouraging texts from people at church telling me that they were praying (God has blessed me with a great church family). Throughout the day  Psalm 23:4 echoed in my mind: " Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

I know that the next few days will be hard. I won't be strong enough to face them~ but I know the One Who can. He will be "Strong enough, for the both of us".