Read Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. (Isa. 40:1–2) Reflect Most of us live relatively comfortable lives. Our houses are climate controlled; our pantries are full; we aren’t overwhelmingly concerned about foreign invasions. It can be easy to forget what real physical discomfort feels like. Yet many of us experience spiritual and psychological discomfort from the pains of the world. Whatever the source of our suffering, Isaiah has good news for us—a Comforter has come and is coming again. Whatever the source of our suffering, Isaiah has good news for us—a Comforter has come and is coming again. Today’s verses from Isaiah are a reminder of God’s goodness toward his people. God had promised Hezekiah in the previous chapter that they’d have a few more years of freedom but then God’s people would be overwhelmed by the Babylonians. God provided a glimpse of hope amid the agony and dread. He wouldn’t stop the invasion. He would, however, ensure all would be well. It was an incomplete comfort that anticipated a greater comfort to come. In our moments of greatest distress, we need someone to remind us things are going to be OK. When we don’t get the job we were hoping for, we need a friend to remind us there will be other opportunities. When medical bills pile up, we need someone to remind us we have time to work out a plan. It doesn’t take away all the distress, but it does help us endure. More significantly, when we look beyond our temporary discomforts toward our spiritual freedom in Christ, it can help us bear up under a mountain of bad news. God is for us, our sin has been pardoned, and it’s going to be alright. That is God’s message to his people in this passage. But even when words of comfort feel like a blanket that doesn’t quite cover our toes, the incomplete comfort is a blessing because it reminds us of the greater comfort to come. Isaiah predicted judgment was coming, but he also reminded God’s people that relief from judgment would come. God doesn’t promise us an easy life, but he does promise complete renewal one day. We celebrate the King’s birth to remind us we still wait for the King’s final coming. In Christ, our sins have been pardoned, and one day, the difficulties of this life will pass away. Even when words of comfort feel like a blanket that doesn’t quite cover our toes, they remind us of the greater comfort to come. When the night is darkest and our toes are coldest, we need a reminder that this isn’t the way life is supposed to be. Christmas is that reminder. The Advent season testifies that our sins have been paid for and the best days are ahead. We already know salvation is coming, yet we won’t get the full measure of comfort until we see Christ face to face. There’s comfort in that knowledge, even as we wait for the promise’s fulfillment. Respond What burdens are you carrying this Advent season? How does it encourage you to remember that God’s complete comfort is yet to come?