A few months ago, I started a new journal, titled Blessed Afflictions. It contains devotional readings and scriptures relative to adversity and suffering, gleaned from my daily reading and meditations. I took particular note during this week’s Wednesday Prayer Meeting of a disconcerting number of individuals going through many a trial and painful difficulty. This brought to mind a specific Grace Gems offering titled: Resort at once to Jesus for His all-comforting balm.
“Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” John 12:21
There is a hymn that has risen in popularity of late titled In Christ Alone. The last line in the first stanza reads, “My comforter, my all in all – here in the love of Christ, I stand.” In some ways it seems counterintuitive, too simplistic, not the way we are prone to think. We have a tendency to complicate things, often finding ourselves getting mired in the details and complexity of a matter, vainly looking for a way out – a quick fix. How adept we are at clouding up and confusing things when the reality might be quite as simple as looking unto Jesus, the only true and valid author and finisher of our faith for our complete and full salvation (Heb 12:2).
Well, with that lead-in, here’s today’s Lessons From The Garden offering from Grace Gems. Please take note that this was posted July 30th, 2025. At that time, I printed it out, keeping it close at hand, frequently referred to it many times of late, as I have been traversing my own trail of difficulty and adversity.
So, with that here’s Resort at once to Jesus for His all-comforting balm for your prayerful consideration.
In the inexorable riches of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10; Isa 30:15; Job 2:10; Jas. 1:2; Prov. 21:30
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Resort At Once To Jesus For His All Comforting Balm – by Charles Spurgeon
John 16:33, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
When these words were spoken, our Savior was about to leave His disciples to go to His death for their sakes. His great concern was that they might not be overly cast down by the trials which would come upon them. He desired to prepare their minds for the heavy sorrows which awaited them, while the powers of darkness and evil men wrought their wicked will upon Him.
Observe that our Lord Jesus, in whom infinite wisdom dwells, knew all the secret springs of comfort, and all the hallowed sources of consolation; and yet in order to console His disciples, He spoke concerning Himself.
Does He not herein teach us, that there is no balm for the broken heart, like Himself; and that there is no consolation comparable to His own person and His work. If the divine consoler Himself must point to who He Himself is to us, and what He has done for us, in order to comfort us–then how wise it must be for ministers to preach much of Jesus by way of encouragement to the Lord’s afflicted. And how prudent it is for troubled believers to look to Him for all the comfort they need. “Be of good cheer,” He says, “I”–something about Himself, “I have overcome the world.”
So then beloved, in every time of trouble or sorrow, hasten to the Lord Jesus! Whenever the cares of life burden you, and the way is hard for your weary feet–flee to Jesus!
There are other sources of consolation, but they are not helpful at all times, or in every situation. But there dwells such a fullness of comfort in Jesus, that His streams of consolation are always flowing. However great your trouble, and from whatever quarter it may arise–resort at once to Jesus for His all-comforting balm.
It has been rightly said, “The Spirit is the comforter–but Jesus is the comfort.”
“Come to ME, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
