The goodbye hug was long, but clinging to each other couldn’t stop the inevitable. Though our hearts were tightly knit together in close friendship, we were about to be physically torn apart by thousands of miles. And not only she and I, but also our kids who were super close as well. Deep, emotional sadness has followed. My friend has moved, and I am left to grieve and adapt.

God promises in II Corinthians 1 that He is the, “God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction.” Nothing less than comprehensive comfort is promised by our Creator.

Knowing the separation would tear me apart, I had beforehand been praying by faith that God would comfort, not understanding how He could possibly accomplish the seemingly impossible. However, God is One who always keeps His promises. He did not disappoint.

He comforted and is comforting through the grief. I wish I could help you understand specifically what all He has done, but to explain what has happened (the mirror, pretend wedding, overnight guests, last-minute ride to the airport, forgotten van keys, pink coffee mug, etc,) would not only take awhile, but in the end would probably still be one of those situations where you “had to be there.” So please just trust me that God is what He claims to be, the God of all comfort.

His comfort has not removed the grief but has eased it and encouraged me. God has soothed me. Stood by me. Shown me clearly that He is for me and not against me. Though He has removed my friend’s physical presence, He has assured me that He is with me and cares for me. He has not been harsh, uncaring, or mean. He has truly been the God of all comfort to me. And He even helped me understand that He had to physically leave and separate from His dear friends when He died on the cross. He knows exactly what my friend and I are experiencing.

I love later on in II Corinthians when in chapter 7 verse 6, the Bible reads, “But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus.” Early in 2020, I experienced significant heartache and was severely depressed. As God sent Titus to Paul, God sent me one of my long-distance friends, who had not been to my home in over seven years. The comfort that I received during that visit thoroughly revived me and helped me through that hard time.

In this cursed world, we will face hardships again and again and again. Do we have faith that God will comfort us? Do we pray for that comfort? Do we anticipate that comfort? Do we recognize we might be the one God is sending to a depressed person to offer them comfort? We need God. We need each other. And, we definitely need comfort! Let’s earnestly pray for it believing God can do the impossible no matter what affliction we or our loved ones are enduring.