Comfort Food

Location: Comfort Food Restaurant
Luke 4:38-39 NIV

"So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them" (Luke 4:39, NIV).

​This past weekend I met up with my parents and grandparents and we went to a comfort food style place by the highway for lunch (I’m not naming names but I bet you can guess which one I’m talking about!).

When we got there, we were seated pretty promptly, within 15 minutes, but then waited about 45 minutes for our food. I came in somewhat hungry but after an hour of waiting, I could definitely be considered hungry. We stared at the trays of food coming out of the kitchen, hoping each one would be ours. When I’m hungry, I start feeling weak. And when I start feeling weak, I can’t think or do anything else until food is placed in front of me. 

Fortunately, the food finally came. We feasted on the comfort food in front of us and left with full bellies. 

I started thinking about the purpose of food. It’s almost like a mini healing. We go throughout our day doing our activities but then we need to refuel, and the purpose of that refuel time is so we can continue to do our activities with strength and energy. 

Thinking about this smaller scale healing made me think of Jesus healing Simon’s mother-in-law in Luke 4. She was sick with a fever, bedridden, and could not engage in her normal activities. As soon as Jesus healed her, she immediately began waiting on the disciples (Luke 4:39; Mark 1:31). 

Her healing wasn’t so she could sit on the couch and watch TV better, her healing was so she could engage in her spiritual gift of hospitality! And isn’t that often what physical and spiritual healing from God is all about? 

When God heals our marriage, our cancer, our addiction, our need for constant attention, God’s healing usually multiplies that healing to benefit others. Simon’s mother-in-law’s healing benefited the disciples, God healing a pornography addiction helps others with that same addiction, God healing a broken heart helps others going through a tough time.

That is the beauty of redemptive healing. God doesn't waste, God multiplies. God does not cause harm or hurt, God redeems. God uses all things for good. 

"God doesn't waste, God multiplies."

And God’s healing may manifest in different ways. It may come from a doctor, a trusted counselor, prayer, or a loving community. 

The problems happen when we try to heal ourselves. Instead of using food to refuel, we use it to soothe our pain. Instead of moving forward from our difficult past, we justify our actions by stewing in bitterness and resentment. Instead of dealing with the underlying issues of addiction, we cover it up by distracting ourselves with busyness. 

We can’t heal ourselves. God heals. And God doesn’t just offer food to refuel us, God offers living water, the cup of salvation, and the bread of heaven. We are renewed and energized from the living water God gives us and we are sustained by the bread and the cup. God does this because God is love. God loves us and God also loves those around us. Our healing impacts us and it impacts others. 

If you are in the midst of pain and brokenness today, hold on to the promise that you will be healed—either on this side of eternity or the next. Your hurt will be used for good. Rest in the beauty of redemption and keep your eyes open to the work God is doing through your healing. 

Let’s pray: Gracious God, thank you for your redemptive love. Thank you for turning our pain into a plan for us and for others. Amen.