Contemplations on Consolation

Confessions:

I'm sitting in bed... at 2 p.m. after watching a movie on Netflix, having broken all my Lenten practices for at least a week now. My head feels like naval mine a thousand feet under water that might detonate at any moment. There's a gigantic elephant of fear sitting on my chest. I have no idea what I'm doing with my life, whether I should be in school, and where I'm going to live next year. I feel purposeless, alone, and terrified out of my mind.

It's that time of Lent where things are getting difficult. Spring is in the air, but it feels like we might not make it. Spring forward sucked an hour out of your life and the weather is muddy at best. You might be in need of comfort... and extra tempted to seek whatever you gave up. I know I am. My physical sickness has weakened my spiritual fortitude. I keep making little exceptions for what I gave up thinking I need to take care of myself. But God will take care of me right? I mean aside from taking responsibility for proper nutrition, sleep, and exercise... He will provide for my needs. Right?

I'm not feeling so confident at the moment. We need each other to encourage one another to trust God. The orginal words for encouragement in the KJV are "exhortation, comfort, and consolation" Parakleo (both to comfort and exhort) literally denotes "to call to one's side". Because my top love languages are quality time and touch, I love this illustration. The best encouragement is when someone comes alongside me. Consolation translates in to "encouragement with the alleviation of grief" It's that same idea of Sunday's message, "death is not the end" "when one door closes another opens" "our failings, weaknesses, sins ultimately work toward forming us into the person God desires us to be as long as we surrender them to Him". Paracletos is "the one summoned, called to one's side" and used of Christ when referring to his intercession on our behalf and of the Holy Spirit who is to give us deeper knowledge of truth and strength to endure trials. On Sunday the pastor gave us this verse to hold out to one another as a guarantee and I find it extremely fitting. May you derive strength and sustenance from it.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13