Comfort—at first this sounds like a response to tears. But divine comfort is much greater than that, as Chief Apostle Schneider explains. God gives us His word that He is there for us, that He knows us, that He loves us, and that He is with us—no matter the situation in which we find ourselves.
„“Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Your word to Your servant” (Psalm 119: 76). These words were the focus of a divine service that Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider conducted in Sighisoara, Romania.
Comfort that carries us onward
Divine comfort always goes far beyond what human begins can imagine, explained the Chief Apostle. It is not merely the alleviation of sadness, but rather the enduring promise of God: “I am there for you. I know you and I love you. I am with you and will never leave you!” The Holy Spirit reminds us of this certainty again and again, and shows us that God’s grace and goodness are the true source of all comfort.
In his sermon, the Chief Apostle listed ten such expressions of grace, which allow us to experience His comfort in daily life.
Earthly expressions of grace—seeing what really counts
“Human beings are always so focused on the things they do not have—and find it unfair that others have more than they do,” said the Chief Apostle. The Holy Spirit, however, seeks to direct our attention to the undeserved gifts God grants us. “Don’t just dwell on the things you don’t have! Why don’t you think about all the things I have given you that you did not earn for yourself!” There are so many things we take for granted: “You have a husband or wife—many others do not. You are healthy—others are sick, some of them for years! Do you really think you have deserved such gifts, and that the reason others do not have these things is because they haven’t earned them?”
The grace of election—accepted without any effort on our part
A further comfort lies in the fact that God chose human beings before the foundation of the world. Even before they could ever make any kind of contribution of their own, He decided to love them unconditionally. The Chief Apostle emphasised this deep promise of God: “I love you just as you are, no matter what you do, no matter how you behave. I will always love you with the same love.”
The grace of eternal life—hope that endures
In all suffering, God’s promise remains that He will provide humanity with eternal happiness that will cause them to forget all earthly hardship. Chief Apostle Schneider vigorously emphasised that in the new creation, every day will offer new reasons to praise God. People often ask, “Why is life so unfair?” But the grace of God is just as inexplicable: “Why does God want to do so much good to me? I can’t possibly earn this!”
The grace of forgiveness—no end to new beginnings
Human beings make mistakes again and again—and again and again, God grants them forgiveness. The Chief Apostle emphasised that this grace does not condemn, but helps us get back up on our feet again. His forgiveness reminds us to never grow tired of fighting against evil and to always forgive others. “Don’t give up, keep fighting!” he urged. God’s grace is not a licence to continue living in the old ways, but an invitation to change and persistently pursue goodness.
Grace in everything we need—He gives us what matters
The grace of God contains everything that a human being needs for perfection—not only word and sacrament, but even the concrete circumstances of each individual’s life. People often have their own ideas about what they need for their salvation. Nevertheless, God does not promise the fulfilment of all their wishes, but rather only what is truly necessary: “You may not have everything you desire, but if you are sincere, you will receive from Me everything you need in order to be redeemed.”
The grace of time—a chance to repent
God grants humanity additional time—a grace period to make changes and do what He expects of them. “It’s not too late—do something!” was the Chief Apostle’s clear appeal. This grace period is both an opportunity and a call to take action instead of merely waiting.
The grace of perfection—because He will make it happen
Human beings can never become perfect like Christ on their own. However, God not only looks at the end result, but at the sincerity of the effort. “God will grant you perfection by grace,” the Chief Apostle assured his listeners.
Grace for all—available to the very end
The thought that God never abandons anyone, not even those who have strayed from Him, is another comforting aspect of His grace. “Do not worry unnecessarily: I love them more than you love them!” the Chief Apostle emphasised. God gives all human beings the opportunity to find their way back to Him, even to the very end.
Grace that is more powerful—Christ always has the last word
At times evil seems overwhelming—but the Chief Apostle reminded his listeners that the grace of God is always stronger. The work of God will be completed. No power can prevent this from happening. “Do not be afraid, I will complete My work! No one can stop Me from doing so!”
The grace of your gifts—discover and engage them!
Finally, God calls everyone to recognise the gifts they have received and to use them in service to God and their fellow human beings. “Use these gifts of grace to do good to your neighbour,” the Chief Apostle concluded.
The grace of God is more than a consolation prize. It is a source of strength, a companion on life’s path, and a hope for the future—for all those who keep their eyes open to the activity of the Holy Spirit.
Photos: NAK Schweiz