Who comforts God? (2022)

Who comforts God on days like this?
When God’s children cry out in agony
When evil tears apart the souls of the beloveds
Who comforts the Creator?

Does God turn on a mindless movie to tune out the sorrows of the world
Or instead is God’s grief swallowed down with ice cream
Or does God whisper out, “I just need a hug” before collapsing
Into the couch, pulling a blanket over their face
Dreading the light of the next morning where it must all be faced again.

God, who comforts you?
The pastors and the therapists—we go to other pastors and therapists
Encircling each other with enough care to make it through the day
But if you are God—the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer—where do you go
When the creation is dying
And the redemption seems failing
And the sustaining isn’t lasting

God, my God, who comforts you?
If I ascend to the heavens, you are there.
If I make my bed in the depths, you can crawl in with me.
We will hold each other, and we will cry out
For grace and mercy and justice and resurrection.
Even there your hand will guide me, our hands will hold each other steadfast.
We’ll see through the darkest night because you light the way.

God, forgive us and maybe we can comfort you.