Article May 28, 1966 Issue

"They shall be comforted"

PHYLLIS ANN COWEN

At a time when the loss of a loved one seems overwhelmingly real, it is reassuring to find, in the Bible, promise after promise of God's comfort and care for His children. Both Old and New Testaments are rich with strengthening promises of good for the mourner.

Christ Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall he comforted."^{Matt. 5:4;} Today, right now, this instant, we can claim this comfort.

The word "comfort" comes from the Latin conforlare, meaning "to strengthen greatly." This strengthening is what seemed needed in our family when my father passed on suddenly away from home. My mother and I felt confused and unable to decide what to do, and the many decisions that had to be made quickly seemed almost overwhelming to us. It was when things were most muddled that my father's personal effects were returned to us; and in his wallet we found a scrap of paper with this Bible verse written on it: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."^{Isa. 41:10:}