What The Presence of God Really Means

At first glance, the book of Lamentations would most likely fall pretty low on the list of books of the Bible that one would use for purposes of evangelism outreach.  Using it could possibly go something like this.."I would really like to share a verse with you"  "Ummm...I guess it couldn't hurt". "This verse is from the book of Lamentation...Chapter 1 v 2.  "She weeps bitterly in the night. And her tears are on her cheeks; She has none to comfort her." "Ummm....thanks for that, I think I hear my phone ringing, I better take that call."
     When it comes to leading with the positive, it certainly seems at first blush that Lamentations would not be a jumping off point.  Upon further examination, however, the parallels between the plight of a nation that had rejected God as shown in Israel,  is remarkably similar to the plight of a nation that has done the same thing 2500 or so years later.  Many of the hardships that Israel endured are prevalent in our society in this modern era as well.  While we certainly have our share of the troubles that the nation of Israel endured as the prophet Jeremiah observed the decayed state of his nation, perhaps the most startling absence that we can note is the absence of comfort. There are numerous references to the lack of comfort that the people of Israel had as a result of their sin.  One gets the sense that amidst all of the trials imposed on Israel, the lack of comfort stood out as the one aspect of their punishment that Jeremiah found to be the most difficult.
Might it not be a point of impact to begin to understand that multitudes of people who do not know Jesus are exposed to this same void in their own lives? It only takes a cursory glance around our American culture that our constant and frenetic pursuit of comfort indicates that a massive void must exist in that area. How do we help to fill this void as followers of Jesus?  The meaning of the word comfort is to show kindness to someone.  This typically occurs in Scripture when a death occurs.  The source of comfort, however, according to Isaiah 12:1 is from God. This, may be the root, as well as the solution to our problems as Christians.  Until we can understand that all of our earthly strivings, all of our Social Gospel efforts, all of our community programs and outreaches are as vain as Solomon's pursuits, our impact on bringing comfort to this barren, desolate world will be taken with the wind.  Until we can truly surrender ourselves to the idea that our comfort can never come from bigger paychecks, more influential friends, a winning football team, a warmer climate, or any of the other things we seek to fill our comfort void with, we can never truly show the world what it means to be comforted.  I know that each month, as the bills are paid, and the calculation of  how much money my family has to last until I get paid again happens, my ability to take comfort from God is challenged.  Some weeks it is a battle that I win, and some weeks the converse takes place.  This is a work in progress, but I am also understanding that the more I seek comfort on my own, the bigger the comfort void becomes. What areas of comfort are you seeking to grasp hold of apart from God? Can you change that?  Is there something you can do right now, in this moment, to signify that you are giving it over to Him, seeking His comfort?  This is not a one time thing, but if you never start the process, you can never come to a true understanding of what the presence of God really means.