LOGOS TRADING POST - COMFORT CROSSES

God: Our Comforter

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Indeed, God is ultimately our comfort, more so than these simple comfort crosses. However, these crosses are still useful tools to supplement our faith and remind us of the comfort God wishes to provide, so we are more than happy to offer than as support to believers.

Indeed, it is important to God that we can seek Him as comfort in difficult times, so He has made himself available. Let us not forget that things won’t always be easy in the life of a believer. After all, Peter writes in 1 Peter 4:12 & 19, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you...Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” Still, though suffering is a given in the Christian existence, God acknowledges it and stands with us within it. Jesus Christ Himself assures us in Matthew 11:28-30, which says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

However, even beyond this, there are many, many times that God plays the role of a comforter and assures His children that He will be a comforter to them. The Psalmist famously says in Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Further, the Psalmist of Psalm 119:50 has to say on the subject, “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life,” and then he carries on in verse 76, saying, “Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.” Still, perhaps most notable is another direct promise from the savior Himself found in Matthew 5:4, which assures us by saying, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” In the pains we shall come to face in this life, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself assures that we are blessed by them, for God’s comfort is soon to follow the suffering we endure.

The Cross: A Symbol of Our Comfort

All of the above especially means a lot when we recognize that the Son of God did not back down from suffering, instead taking the greatest of suffering unto death, a death we all deserve. Even still, it was not easy. He is recorded in Luke 22:41-44 to have prayed before the arrest, torment, and crucifixion he would soon face, with the text saying, “And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Even still, we know it to be true that He faced His suffering, and the Father was faithful to Him. Further, because He, as Hebrews 12:2 says, “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,” we now have a Savior who understands our humanity and the pain we may experience; as Hebrews 4:14-16 tells us, “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in a time of need.”

However, not only do we have Savior who understands the hardships of life, but, thanks to Him, we also have a symbol to remind us that He is willing to enter into the midst of our hardest situations: the cross. In 1 Corinthians 1:18, Paul says of the cross, “The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” The cross means everything to us, it is a unifying symbol for all people of faith, and without it there would be nothing for Christianity to stand upon.

In a more personal sense, however, the cross is a shape we can look to and be comforted by, knowing all that Jesus was willing to do to have us as His own. All of this is the heart behind the holding cross / comfort cross as a tool for our faith and prayers. As you hold its comfortable shape and feel the sturdy olive wood against your skin, it is our hope that you might remember that Jesus understands your situation and wishes to be your comforter within it. We hope you’ll consider giving one of our olive wood comfort crosses a try, even if you’ve never used one before. Whatever your decision, we encourage you most of all to remember the cross of Jesus - letting that be a cross of comfort for you - and to remember that having Him to walk through life with you is the greatest comfort of all.