A Horse in a Hospital Room

I saw an article recently about a horse that visits patients in a hospital. This horse walks up and down hospital halls and goes in to visit patients recovering from surgery. This horse will put his muzzle up next to sick patients and seems to know who is the sickest. Patients look forward to his visits. Can you imagine having a horse lay his head down beside you so you can pet him?

This is just a small picture of what our loving God does for us. God cares for us in our sickness and struggles, and He soothes us with His presence. Paul in II Corinthians calls our God, “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” (1:3) When we are discouraged, depressed or mistreated, He’s there for us. When we turn to Him in prayer, He “comforts us in all our troubles.” (v. 4)

Paul doesn’t stop there. Verse 4 says Paul has experienced intense suffering, and he says, “so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” Because our God comforts each of us, we are enabled to comfort others. Our Savior, who suffered for us, is more than able to comfort us in our suffering and distress (v. 5). God helps us through our pain and equips us to do the same for others.

Prayer – God, thank you for Your comforting presence in my pain and sorrow. Help me in turn to be a comfort to others. Amen.

II Corinthians 1:4 – “God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble.”

By the Rev. Tommy Herndon
Image: Equus Foundation