We all need a little consoling from time to time, a pat on the back, to reassure us that everything is going to be all right. Not to downplay that action, but what I’m about to show you isn’t meant to comfort you during emotional panic. It is God who was once far off because of sin and rebellion, coming near to a weary people, saying, “I’m Back!”
In 2026, God has said it is the year of the fix. Not the initiation of correction and judgment concerning sin, as Jesus accomplished this on the cross, but the awaking of the rights and privileges given to His people in Christ.
Isaiah 40:1-2 says, “Comfort, yes comfort My people!” says your God. “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” The Hebrew word for comfort here is “nacham.” This word does not imply the stepping over of sin or the exile produced by rebellion, but on the contrary, confronts it head-on. It is with divine attention and involvement that the effects of and punishment for sin are eradicated.
“Nacham,” or comfort, awakens the heart; it alters the human condition affected by its separation from God. Ezekiel 36:26 said it this way, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Biblical comfort does not promise a life of perfection. It is not the denial or avoidance of hardship; it is God declaring to His people that He has entered the journey once again. It is God with us, and if God is for you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)
Comfort is not God fixing everything for you – it’s God standing with you in everything!
Isaiah 30:18 (AMPC) is long-winded, but I want you to see what is revealed: “And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits[expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]! I love this verse. Notice that the demand of justice is not placed on man, but rather God lifts Himself up (the cross), taking all punishment to ensure victory, favor, love, peace, joy, and unbroken and matchless companionship.
Let me say it this way, God is not repairing the cross – He is adjusting the posture and position of His people to walk in what the cross has already secured!
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 says, “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. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation (or comfort) and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.”
This Greek word for comfort is “paraklesis.” It means to come alongside, advocate, and strengthen. New Testament comfort shares a similar meaning to the Old Testament; it is not about emotional regulation; it’s about divine companionship. God is not shouting encouragement from afar; He is walking with us THROUGH affliction and tribulation.
John 16:33 (AMPC) says, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace (Isaiah 26:3) and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”
Please don’t allow the false humility of a religious mindset to be heard here. Tribulation and frustration fill the atmosphere of this world, but Jesus did not leave you alone to learn something through suffering. Remember that the Holy Spirit, not trials, is the teacher of the church. Comfort is presence; it’s the strengthening of the call, it’s the rejuvenation of sonship that restores, reclaims, and reinstates a righteous perspective of peace, quietness and confidence forever. Because of the declaration of God’s comfort, we are like Shadrach, Meshack, and Abed-Nego, who were tossed violently into the fire, but the fire had no power over them.
Comfort is God coming alongside His people, and by His Spirit in and upon them to finish what He started. It’s assurance that the original mission continues. All tactics of the enemy that try and bring hindrances and delay to our mission have been dealt with fully in Christ.
2026 is about finishing strong. We are made aware that we are to live with God-centered certainty, free of any trepidation or reservation of failure. Ezekiel 12:25, “For I am the Lord. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it, says the Lord God.”