ODJ: writer’s block
December 17, 2011
[God] comforts us in all our troubles (v.4).
READ: 2 Corinthians 1:1-7
Writer’s block will wear you out. During a recent bout with it, everything I wrote ended with the electronic equivalent of throwing a crumpled sheet of paper into the bin. Any hint of an idea died on the page before I could finish the first paragraph. My brain swam in circles every time my fingers touched the computer keys.
As I struggled, an imaginary clock ticked in my mind. Its steady rhythm seemed to say: deadline . . . deadline . . . deadline. Finally, I started to think about the situation from a spiritual perspective. Some words penned by Paul came to mind: “[God] comforts us in all our troubles” (2 Cor. 1:4).
I realise that a persistent case of creative numbness isn’t the worst problem possible. Still, it’s reassuring to know that God’s brand of comfort covers every kind of issue we might encounter—big or small, ongoing or temporary, physical or spiritual (v.3).
While it’s great to remember that God’s reassuring love can reach us anywhere, in any situation (Romans 8:38-39), His comfort has a purpose beyond our comfortableness. God wants us to recycle His loving comfort and redistribute it to other people! “When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:4). This verse encourages me to look for other believers who have fallen into the same potholes I’ve encountered up close and personal. It begs me to speak openly about my struggles instead of proudly pretending I’m a superwoman. It gives new meaning to difficult days.
So here I am, writing this message to you—proving that God helps His children when they’re frustrated, confused, or worn down. “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him” (Nahum 1:7). —Jennifer Benson Schuldt
How can you recycle God’s help and support in your life? Why does God want you to pass on His comfort to other people?
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