Isaiah 66:13 (NIV)
“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

Image courtesy: Philips. A baby at peace comforted by the mother

God calls Himself our Father. In fact, Jesus mentioned that we should call no one Father but God. Whether or not we do that is a topic of discussion for another day. Though He is “Father,” a number of times in the Bible, God makes allusions to treating us as a mother would treat her child. It is therefore logical to believe that God has both the characteristics of a dad and a mother. As much as He is a Provider, a Romancer (Hosea 2:14) and Defender, He is a Comforter. In this verse, He draws Israel in by having them think of how mothers comfort their children. He promises to comfort the same way. Every good and perfect gift comes from God. We know that He never gives anything that is not spectacular. So, to call His comfort like that of a mother say something about the beauty and strength of a mother’s comfort. Note that God’s comfort far exceeds that of an earthly mother’s. Nothing God does is remotely within our ability. He does more than we can ever hope for or ask.

When the Lord gave us the Comforter individually by grace and faith, it was not to come and go. It was one to stay with us always. Mothers may not physically be with us every minute of every day but they carry us with us everywhere they go, and we them.

To mothers, thank you for all you do. God sees all you do. To everyone, if you think God does not love you, know that He seeks to comfort you like a loving mother. Be comforted by our amazing God.

For information on “From Valley to the Mountaintop” book, see here.