Visible Comfort and Compassion

God is a present help to us, He is the one who will not only support us and strengthen our hearts in time of loss or other adversity, but will bring a support system to us, people upon whom we can rely, who can help us through the tough times.  The words of the Psalmist are recorded in Psalm 43:
3 Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle. 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

God's light - the warmth of His presence and the reminders of His faithfulness - can sustain us in those times when we are facing difficulties.   Perhaps it's the loss of a loved one, or the loss of a relationship, or events in our lives that can leave us feeling helpless.   That's when we need the presence of God's holy light and the touch of His love - He will minister to us internally, in our hearts, as well as externally, as people radiate the love of Jesus for us.   Sometimes we'll be on the receiving end, and other times, God will call us to be there for others - sensitive to the leadership of His Spirit.

2nd Corinthians 1 brings us a fresh knowledge of God's comfort in the midst of loss:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Sunday Night Football on NBC is generally one of the highest-rated television programs week by week during the NFL season.   And, while some celebrated the so-called "accomplishments" on the Emmy telecast that featured, among other things, some rather twisted versions of what it means to be a family, the Baltimore Ravens-New England Patriots game showed a devotion to God, family, and teamwork.

Late Saturday night, Ravens receiver Torrey Smith learned that his brother, Devin, had lost his life in a motorcycle accident.   Torrey left the team to go to his home in Virginia to comfort his family.    Later in the day, he made the decision to play in the game - and what a game he had:  6 catches, 127 yards, and 2 touchdowns! 

According to ESPN.com, Smith said to his team:
"I have my family, and I have you as my family...I couldn't have done it without you guys."

The website reports that after each of his touchdowns, the sellout crowd chanted "Torrey, Torrey, Torrey." Smith, though, took a private moment after his first score to kneel in the end zone and say a prayer.

"Obviously, you play with a heavy heart," Smith said. "You want to play for that person."

He spent the day talking to teammates and was part of an emotional church service with the team.

When he got to the stadium around 4 p.m., about four hours before kickoff, Smith texted his mother that he was thinking of playing. Her response: his brother would want him to play.

The Ravens have developed a reputation for being there for one another, and that could well be a reason for their success.   Safety Ed Reed experienced that firsthand last year, when the Ravens dedicated a 30-7 playoff win at Kansas City to him after his brother drowned only days before.

Reed said last night: "When I went through losing my brother, being around these guys, it really helped me get through. To play and have the game he had, that's when we all have to sit back and know that God is working."


And, Coach John Harbaugh saw the evidence of God, too, according to SI.com:
"How do you explain it?'' Harbaugh said. "Coming from a faith perspective, God and heaven work in beautiful wonders, mysterious, wonderful ways. I am not talking about winning and losing. I am talking about what you see people accomplish in the face of adversity. That's really what it's all about. What would be a better story than the one you just saw?''

Just a few quick downloads here:
1 - In the midst of adversity, you can see God at work...and Torrey Smith and his teammates were part of that last night.  First and foremost, Smith was hurting - he had lost his brother, part of a tight-knit family.  The storyline became about healing, help, and honor.  It wasn't about the Ravens and getting redemption from a playoff loss last year to the Patriots, not about the replacement referees, or any of the other story lines - God intervened in a powerful way.

2 - When you see God working, identify it...He is all around us and He works so that He will be glorified.   And, as people testify to Him, more can come to know Him.    Our faith is strengthened, too, as we recognize His presence.

3 - When times are tough, it's important that we rely on the support structure that God has given us.  Torrey obviously wanted to be there for his family.   But, he also had his team who were there for him.   And we saw that both came to fruition.    When we're hurting, we don't have to be afraid or resistant to reach out and seek some help.