Comfort Food

The other evening late while working on a Tea Time with Truth post I took a notion for beef stew with buttered bread, a simple savory meal my family occasionally enjoyed growing up. Having it and even thinking of it reminds me of that precious, lively time of life stuffed with mainly good memories and spent with my siblings and parents. Between its reminiscent qualities and warm yumminess, beef stew with buttered bread qualifies as bonified, heart-hugging comfort food. I set about fixing it.

It occurred to me sometime through the evening thinking about comfort food that truth itself is a is comfort food for my soul. The words of God. Who He is. God’s very character is truth. I can’t tell you the times I’ve been distressed or afraid or doubtful then heard or read a scripture that spoke into my soul and strengthened me like Psalm 138:3 says: “In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.”

Throughout my life, truth has traced a bold, merciful path. The best instillers of truth in my life growing up were my parents. They were not perfect, but they were genuine in their faith and wonderful, compassionate people. They served God in good times and bad times, and a lot of those came together. Dad was a gentle person, a preacher and Sunday school teacher who sang with a clear, sailing voice and was proud and loving of family. Mom was creative, giving, and fun and unendingly busy raising six children and caring for Dad at times after he got sick. I scarcely remember the times before he got the first brain tumor that changed the rest of his life. In spite of illness, Dad’s work as father and spiritual leader in our home continued in strength. Through the difficult years that unfolded, he and Mom taught us kids by example what it looked like to serve God when life plays you a hard hand.

Since I was raised in church from the time I was born, a regular diet of Bible preaching and teaching and God-magnifying singing is the life I’ve known. One of my earliest church memories from when I was probably no more than five years old is of my cousin sitting down on my head while I lay in the church pew, a moment that seemed to surprise and displease us both, although I definitely got the worst end of things. That head squashing was not intentional. The truth part of church, though, was very much intentional.

In church, God’s love for humanity and salvation through Jesus Christ were baked into the messages. The ministers were sincere in their efforts to help us learn to live in a way mindful and honoring of God, have a strong faith, and trust God. We had knowledgeable, Spirit-filled preaching and teaching. Our worship was joyful and moving with song lyrics underscoring God’s greatness and grace and encouraging us to serve the Lord. Our times in the altar were sweet and powerful. There were special occasions also like Easter sunrise services, Advent, Christmas plays, revivals, Bible school, and an occasional film about the end times to help us grow in faith.

I came to find my refuge in God, too. I remember during one of those revivals as a six- year-old little girl feeling my heart pounding in my chest during the altar call and knowing God was knocking on the door of my heart. A picture hung in my home of Jesus standing just outside a heavy, rustic wooden door, his hand poised to knock. As a little girl I knew from what I’d heard that that was Jesus was knocking on the door of someone’s heart. When I felt my heart pounding during the altar call, I knew what it meant. I needed to let Jesus live in my heart. The message of salvation became personal and real to me that night.

I was just a child then, but as I grew and renewed my relationship with God through the years, the measure that I needed God grew, too. I could talk to Him in prayer, and His presence comforted me. The Bible talks about the Holy Spirit being our Comforter. I have felt that comfort and peace many days and nights, and God has sustained me through many hardships. God has proven He’s faithful to me, and when everything else falls down, He remains.

So, comfort food for my soul truth has become. It really makes sense as to why when I read verses about the Holy Spirit. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter. In John 14:15-18 Jesus says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” Hop on down to verse 26 and Jesus says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

The Holy Spirit, a.k.a. Holy Ghost, is our Comforter. He is the spirit of truth. No wonder truth is so comforting.