I well remember when I first experienced how God’s Word comforts His people.

It was at the funeral of Martha’s father.

I remembered all of this yesterday as we gathered as a family at the memorial service for Martha’s brother, Tommy Layton, her last surviving sibling.

Martha and I were engaged to be married when her father passed away. Martha was at college and I made the trip to Troy, Alabama, to tell her the news. We become close with our spouses as we experience the ups and downs of life. While I didn’t want to have to do that and she certainly didn’t want to hear it, that experience and many other hurts have brought us closer together. I think this is exactly what God had in mind for marriage.

As we gathered that day with family, friends, and the church for the funeral, Martha’s pastor (who married us) read the 23rd Psalm as the first part of the funeral service.

I have never forgotten that experience. As he read God’s Word, I experienced a “rush” of the peace of God which passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). I knew immediately that we would be fine and that we could deal with this loss.

We all need to remember that when we read the Word or hear it read, we are in a sense hearing the voice of God. He is speaking to us. We need to be versed in what God has to say. We need to hide God’s Word in our hearts so that in times of trouble we can hear God speaking to us (Psalm 119:11). We also need to be open to what God has to say so that we can experience His great comfort and blessing.

I can’t express how wonderful God’s Word is, but you can experience it for yourself as you read, study, meditate, and memorize it.

Let God guide you as you follow His Word. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).