"But God, who comforts the downcast,
comforted us by the coming of Titus."
2 Corinthians 7:6 NIV
Case One: He had recently lost his wife of 60 years. They were rarely seen apart from each other. Friends and family looked to the senior couple as an example of a godly marriage and lasting love. You can understand his loneliness and emptiness.
Case Two: The job had been steady for her. With a recent promotion and pay raise behind her, she and her husband decided to buy a new house. The payment was higher than they were accustomed to but the raise would cover it, right? Then the company had to downsize and she was laid off. You can understand her fear and uncertainty.
Case Three: He was seventeen years old and the world was full of promise. He starred on the football team and dated a cheerleader. He was to graduate at the top of his class in the spring. But Thanksgiving break saw his father move out. By Christmas his girlfriend left him. On New Years Eve he sits in his truck with a shotgun on the seat beside him. You can understand his hopelessness.
These three cases are close enough to reality to help us see into the thought processes that lead to suicide, alcohol or drug use, or loneliness. Our first response might be that we don't understand these responses because we are Christians. Maybe it's because we are not dealing with these issues.
But you are right, Jesus is the answer. It's just that we don't really know how firmly we are standing on the solid rock until actually buffeted by the howling winds of disaster. And if someone is hit unexpectedly he might become downcast.
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