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Consolation and...

             When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. (Psalm 94:18-19)

 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

Console: mid 17th century (replacing earlier consolate): from French consoler, from Latin consolari, from con- ‘with’ + solari ‘soothe’.

I readily admit it. The main reason for considering this passage this morning is the word consolation. Interestingly, it means what most people seem to think comfort means. But a meme comes to mind that sums up what I think we want when someone consoles us. I don’t remember the first few words, but they are probably like “There, there…” followed by “Here’s a cookie…and a million dollars.”

Another way to read this verse is probably closer to the truth. The consolation God gives begins and ends with Himself. It may include something else, but the what else could compare with God? What would happen in our lives if we really believed we have God, that He is on our side? Many people would say that the claim that God is on our side is arrogant. After all, doesn’t that presume that God is not on their side? Jealousy rears its ugly head, but it needn’t because God being on your side, or wanting what is best for you fits perfectly with God being on their side and wanting what is best for them. We and they may think that impossible, but I can almost guarantee that God being on someone’s side has nothing to do with that person getting what they want or even being right. The “other side” isn’t even (necessarily) another person. That’s why Ephesians 6:12 tells us that our battle isn’t against flesh and blood.

This is a paradigm shift for me - maybe not a huge one, but one that I need to make.

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