Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
STORY
The American Bible Society opened its doors on May 11, 1816. The first president was Elias Boudinot, who was also the first president of the Continental Congress. The second president was John Jay, who was the first chief justice of the United States Supreme Court. The purpose of the American Bible Society was to distribute Bibles, especially in the time of crisis. During the Mexican War of the 1840s the ABS provided Mexican civilians with Bibles. During the American Civil War of the 1860s the ABS had what was called a “Bible wagon.” The Bible wagon would drive through the middle of a battlefield distributing Bibles to both North and South. Today, the American Bible Society distributes camouflaged Bibles to our soldiers.
DEVOTION
Everyone experiences moments when they need heavenly comfort. Problems, whether it comes natural causes of everyday circumstances, or something that we brought upon ourselves, we desire the intervening presence of God. Some people do not handle difficulties well, while others thrive on it. Sadly, most people do not understand that the Bible has the ability to comfort tarnished souls. This leads many to ask, “How does the Bible bring comfort to distraught souls?”
While some people may have some success with man-made ideas and techniques and self-help methods, only the Word of God works without fail. Likewise, one cannot mix man-made procedures with a few Bible verses pasted in for good measure and expect results. We are told in the Bible how this process works as follows: My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing. If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord. (James 1:2-8)
We see from these verses that when we go through trying times, that we can grow to be stronger (Romans 5:3-5). We do this first by asking God for the wisdom to make the change and He will give it to us (Philippians 4:6-7). However, we must ask in faith without wavering.
When we waver, like we read in these verses, it is like we are floating on top of the sea on a windy day. We are tossed back and forth to the point that we have nothing solid to stand on. One minute we think we are trusting God, the next we are anxious because we are not sure if it is going to work. This leaves us confused, discouraged, and powerless to make change.
I am currently reading Wrestling with Doubt: Finding Faith, a book written by Adam Hamilton, that was published last year. Hamilton is a prolific writer with 34 books to his credit. As the founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Lakewood, Kansas, he draws upon his pastoral experiences and scholarship to inform his writings. On page 23 of his book, the author shared his conversion experience. At the age of 14 he began to read the Bible motivated by curiosity. This all changed when he read the gospel according to Luke. The pastor wrote: “I appreciated the Gospel of Matthew and Mark, but it was as I read Luke’s Gospel, and his portrayal of Jesus’ concern for the outsiders, outcasts, and the outlaws, that I made a decision, a choice, to follow him.”
The Bible does comfort troubled souls.