Morning, February 20, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“God, who comforts the depressed.” — 2 Corinthians 7:6

And who comforts like him? Go to some poor, depressed, distressed child of God; tell him precious promises, and whisper in his ear choice words of comfort; he is like the deaf cobra, he does not listen to the voice of the charmer, however wisely he charms him. He is drinking vinegar and bitter herbs, and comfort him as you may, it will be only a note or two of mournful resignation that you will get from him; you will bring forth no psalms of praise, no hallelujahs, no joyful songs. But let God come to his child, let him lift up his countenance, and the mourner’s eyes glisten with hope. Do you not hear him sing—

“‘Tis paradise, if thou art here;

If thou depart, ’tis hell?”

You could not have cheered him up: but the Lord has done it; “He is the God of all comfort.” There is no balm in Gilead, but there is balm in God. There is no physician among the creatures, but the Creator is Jehovah-Rophi. It is marvelous how one sweet word of God will make whole songs for Christians. One word of God is like a piece of gold, and the Christian is the goldsmith, and can hammer that promise out for whole weeks. So, then, distraught Christian, you do not need to sit down in despair. Go to the Comforter, and ask him to give you comfort. You are a poor, dry well. You have heard it said, that when a pump is dry, you must pour water down it first of all, and then, primed, you will get water; and so, Christian, when you are dry, go to God, ask him to shed abroad his joy in your heart, and then your joy shall be full. Do not go to earthly acquaintances, for soon enough you will find them Job’s comforters; but go first and foremost to your “God, that comforts those that are cast down,” and you will soon say, ” When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.”