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Jehovah. The God of all Comfort

“JesusÂ’ compassion paints a touching portrait of JehovahÂ’s concern for each one of his servants."—John 5:19.  ?????? “Weep With Those Who Weep” ?????? “FOR almost a year after the death of our son, we felt deep and excruciating pain,” said Susi. Another Christian said that when his wife died suddenly, he experienced “indescribable physical pain.” Sadly, countless others experience this kind of agony. Many in the Christian congregation may not have expected their loved ones to die this side of Armageddon. ?????? Whether you have personally lost a loved one in death or know someone who is bereaved, you may wonder, ‘How can grieving ones be helped to deal with their heartache?Â’ ?????? Perhaps you have heard it said that time is a great healer. However, does it really follow that time by itself will heal a broken heart? One widow observed, “I have found it more accurate to say that it is what one does with oneÂ’s time that helps one to heal.” Yes, like a physical wound, the pain of an emotional wound may gradually ease over time if it is given tender care. What, specifically, can help bereaved individuals heal their painful emotional wounds? ?????? JEHOVAH—“THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT” Without a doubt, the primary source of consolation is our compassionate heavenly Father, Jehovah. (Read 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4.) Jehovah, the foremost example of empathy, assured his people: “I myself am the One comforting you.”—Isa. 51:12; Ps. 119:50, 52, 76. ?????? Our Father of tender mercies has himself experienced the loss of loved ones, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and King David. (Num. 12:6-8;Matt. 22:31, 32; Acts 13:22) GodÂ’s Word assures us that Jehovah has eagerly anticipated—has had an earnest longing for—the time when he will bring them back to life. (Job 14:14, 15) They will be happy and in vibrant health. Consider, too, that GodÂ’s dearly beloved Son—“the one he was especially fond of”—died an agonizing death. (Prov. 8:22, 30) Words cannot express the pain Jehovah must have suffered.—John 5:20; 10:17. ?????? How can we be consoled by Jehovah? We can have unwavering confidence that Jehovah will act in our behalf. We should therefore not hesitate to pour out our hearts to him in prayer concerning our personal grief. How comforting it is to know that Jehovah understands our pain and provides the comfort that we so sorely need! But how does he do so? ?????? One way God helps us is by means of “the comfort of the holy spirit.” (Acts 9:31) GodÂ’s active force is a very powerful source of comfort. Jesus promised that the Father in heaven would eagerly “give holy spirit to those asking him.” (Luke 11:13) Susi, quoted earlier, says: “There were so many times when we just dropped to our knees and implored Jehovah to comfort us. Every single time, the peace of God truly guarded our hearts and minds.”—Read Philippians 4:6, 7. ?????? JehovahÂ’s tender empathy was perfectly expressed in the words and actions of his compassionate Son, Jesus, when he was on earth. (John 5:19) Jesus was sent to provide comfort for “the brokenhearted” and “all who mourn.” (Isa. 61:1, 2; Luke 4:17-21) Hence, he was characterized by deep compassion—a sympathetic awareness of peopleÂ’s suffering and a heartfelt desire to alleviate their suffering.—Heb. 2:17.  ?????? If you are grieving, you too can find soothing comfort from such scriptures as the following:  “Jehovah is close to the brokenhearted; he saves those who are crushed in spirit.”—Ps. 34:18, 19. “When anxieties overwhelmed me, you [Jehovah] comforted and soothed me.”—Ps. 94:19. “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave everlasting comfort and good hope by means of undeserved kindness, comfort your hearts and make you firm.”—2 Thess. 2:16, 17.* https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2017483?q=john+5%3A19&p=par ??????