A few days ago in prayer, the Lord declared again, “Nestle in Me.” This is associated with a word we had posted on December 17, 2021, titled, “It is Here.” (See Watchtower Word: It is HERE). Along with this message I am hearing in the Spirit, “Take comfort in Him,” (2Cor. 1:3-7; Isa. 51:12).
In the 2Corinthians 1 reference from above, these verses are under the heading PRAISE TO THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT. He is the God of ALL comfort—in times of trouble His comfort IN Christ abounds. Interesting, in verse 6 it says, “If we are distressed, IT IS FOR YOUR comfort and salvation and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which PRODUCES IN YOU PATIENT ENDURANCE of the same sufferings we suffer.”
Paul is making a statement as a leader in the Body. If he’s distressed it’s because it’s producing comfort and salvation in another. This is not a comfort in the worldly sense, with the lusts of the flesh. He’s talking about helping those of the Body that may be about to enter into troubles, SO THAT they may come into the comforts of the Lord and His presence in their salvation, which He brings within those times of trouble. God uses times of trouble for this exact purpose—for His Comforter to bring forth conviction and to also show He will not leave you in a time when you need His counsel most (the Holy Spirit, John 16:7; John 14:16-17). The word ‘distressed’ stands out to me. There is one important time I saw this same form of distress, in Mark 14:33, when Jesus was praying at Gethsemane. THIS IS THE DISTRESS the Leader of all, our ultimate Leader endured, in order to bring comfort and salvation to His people that would come to the knowledge of Him eventually—as a result of His distress. One that leads understands this place truly, as they intercede on behalf of others in the Body.
Mark 14:33 And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.
Following this scripture He says this:
Mark 14:34 Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”
He told His disciples to STAY AND KEEP WATCH. This was not only literal, but for what was to come afterwards for them and what He wanted from them. In other words, don’t leave Him, STAY WITH HIM, and be alert (1Peter 5:8; 1Peter 4:7)/attentive (Ex. 23:21; Prov. 4:1; Prov. 5:1)/protective against danger (Prov. 4:23)/and look with expectation (Ps. 39:7; Ps. 62:5; Lam. 3:18; Rom. 8:19). This is also for the sake of those that would follow afterwards, so they may be comforted as the darkness approaches and come to the salvation of the Lord.
Likewise, if the leaders are in the place of the comforts of the Lord, it’s for those in the Body, to have a harvest of patient endurance within their times of sufferings through sacrifices in Him (Rom. 12:1-2). This is so that they’ll bear long with steadfastness, or also known as unwavering faith and hope (Matt.21:21; 1Thess. 1:3), without the hypocrisy (James 3:17).
Let’s continue to focus on nestling and taking comfort in Him. Matthew 11:28-30 says this:
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
When I hear this scripture, I hear the comfort of the Lord. It’s a great picture of the Lord coming along side you to help you as the Comforter. The yoke itself was a mechanism that was used to join draft animals at the heads or necks so they could PULL TOGETHER. This is not just a partnering, it’s more. Draft animals were used to pull heavy loads. They were trained for this. However, Christ is able to ‘lighten the load.’ He too was also made and formed to carry burdens. He knows the weight of it at times, the distress of it. But yet He wants to join His people to help them carry their cross as well (Matt. 16:24; Luke 9:23). He will help them lighten the load but also bring the light or understanding to a place that seems to be too difficult for us to bear or also ABIDE.
John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not ABIDE in darkness.
He wants to come alongside us make us endure and eventually overcome the darkness by His Light in us. This will bring us to the point in full maturity, where the darkness no longer is heavy upon us, but now has NOTHING IN US.
1John 1:5 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.
Ps. 139:11-12 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me,
and the light become night around me”—
even the darkness is not dark to You,
but the night shines like the day,
for darkness is as light to You.
John 14:30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.
Hear what the Spirit is saying. Nestle in Him. Take comfort in Him. For the dark even shines as day with Him and is light to Him, for He has created it ALL for His glory…
See also: Bible Study on Comfort