A couple of weeks ago, as the temperatures began to rise, Amanda and I discovered that our air conditioner’s compressor was broken—fried, kaput. We did the inevitable homeowner task of calling an HVAC repairman to assess the situation, and the best solution was to get a whole new unit.
The past few weeks haven’t been too bad; we had a few warm days, but there are ways to manage that problem. We opened the windows when it was cool and closed them when the outside temperature exceeded the indoor temperature. Hopefully, it will be fixed this week.
Situations like this make me pause and reflect on how the world works.
Having on-demand refrigerated air is a relatively new development in human history. Most of my life involved using evaporative cooling—water running over aspen shavings while a fan pushed the cooled air around. This method is only effective in dry climates and up to about 100 degrees. Before that, people relied on fans to circulate air in their homes. Amanda often reminds me of her grandmother, who lived in Arizona 80 years ago, grew up without air conditioning. Whenever I consider these facts, I can’t help but think, “I am a weak and delicate.” The majority of cultures today still don’t have access to these luxuries, and throughout much of human history, people lacked such comforts.
We are obsessed with maintaining perfect temperatures, which highlights our preoccupation with comfort. Many of us live in an ideal bubble of 65-75 degrees. We might tolerate a little discomfort, like when we step out of our car into a store, but we quickly seek relief from the heat once again. From a biblical perspective, we must ask ourselves: Where do we derive our comfort? Is it from a perfectly controlled environment, or is there something more enduring to hold onto? The psalmist offers answers to this question.
· Psalm 119:50 “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.”
· Psalm 119:52 “When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.”
· Psalm 119:76 “Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.”
These verses highlight three areas from which we can derive comfort: reflecting on the promises of God, which sustain us even in difficult times; God’s instruction, which offers stability amid the chaos of the world; and resting in God’s unchanging love, knowing that our discomfort or circumstances do not diminish the love God has for us.
Our comfort should not be based on temperature fluctuations. We are not rooted in something so fleeting and temporary. Instead, we dwell in the promises of God, the Word of God, and the Love of God. These truths should provide a stable foundation for our lives, assuring us that no matter what we experience we will have relief.