John 8:1-11

An affliction is a crushing pressure that threatens to destroy us. Our health, peace of mind, or relationships could be in danger from the hardship. We know God will comfort us when we are sick. But, will He be there when we bring the affliction upon ourselves by our sin? This is a question many believers ask. But too often, they provide their own answer of no.

But, the Lord does not condemn us for sin—He has forgotten it. What remains are the consequences of our wrong actions. If we turn to God, He will soothe our soul and guide us safely through the painful fallout. Under His influence, pain is bearable and serves to make faith stronger.

Remember the woman dragged before Jesus by the Pharisees? She had been caught in adultery, which was a clear violation of the Law. The religious leaders were prepared to throw stones, but Jesus spoke to her with compassion. Although He in no way condoned her sin, He did recognize that she was already facing consequences for her unwise choices. He forgave her, saying, “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11 KJV).

Nothing we do can separate us from the love of God. One way He expresses that love is through the promise of comfort when we hurt, even when the pain is self-inflicted. We can allow shame to chase us away from the Father’s loving arms… convinced He would not give encouragement to one who disobeyed. Or, we can believe Scripture when it tells us, He is “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort…”(2 Corinthians 1:3)