Customer Reviews

The God of All Comfort

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This book was exactly what I needed at a time of backsliding in the Christian life. Hannah taught me to stop fighting my own battles and hand them over to God, who fights for us. It also inspired me to get rid of all the worry and anxiety in my life. She masterfully illustrates, through biblical passages, God's unfailing love and care for His children. The way Hannah states her case, it is utter foolishness not to trust God completely and hand over all our cares to Him. Now I can look up at the stars at night, knowing that the God who made them is now in charge of my puny problems, and will bring about a solution in His own good way at His own good time. For just as we love to do good things for our children, "much more" does God love to do good things for His. If only every worried or anxious Christian would read this book, their lives would instead be full of comfort and joy.

I love the writings of H.W. Smith so very much because they are so practical and easy to understand. You can feel it: She experienced something.
Especially the book "God of all Comfort" is so touching and not only comforting. It shows the way to satisfaction in the midst of hard times and sorrows in the everyday life. A wonderful book!
The last chapter ("God is enough")seems to be the best and most helpful chapter. I quote some passages: "God, and God alone, is enough for all the soul needs. ... This is the crowning discovery of our whole Christian life...The Promiser is more than His promises; and His existence is a surer ground of confidence than the most fervent feelings...And should every promise be wiped of the Bible, we would still have God left, and God would be enough."

Hannah Whitall Smith's small book, "The God of All Comfort", is the little book I keep close by. It is the book I go to time after time, especially in times of sorrow, trouble, or fear. I have underlined and re-underlined passages. I have dated in the margins times when phrases have applied. This is the book I give to friends when they are going through deep waters. I highly recommend it.

Reading Hannah's book is like visiting with a friend. Her words spoke directly to my heart. God has used this book in my life to show me his Fatherhood--how much He dearly loves His children. Hannah also shows how the Lord is our Shepherd, our Provider, our Banner, our Dwelling Place, and much more. Never has any other book changed my life like this one--other than the Bible, of course. I know it will change yours too.

I have been teaching this book for nearly a year to my ladies Bible class on Wednesday nights. The class consists of 25 women, who, in varying ways, need to be comforted. Even though this book was written in 1906, and these women range in age from 20 to 60, it is the best book I have found to address each of their needs. This book has taught me that God can and does meet all our needs and even though each of our needs are very different, His way of meeting them, individually, is very similar. Hannah Whitall Smith has a way of simplifying and explaining how God can and will comfort us. Chapter eight, The Lord our Dwelling Place, has been particularly helpful to those of us who have had wayward children. She has a way of convicting us that God is there and He really is Our Father. Even though I thought discussing 17 chapters would be long and redundant, the class has proven to be one of the best I have ever led and the women have recommended it to more people than any class I have ever taught. I highly recommend it.

I have read many other books and references written about the Christian faith, but the book that has probably inspired me the most is this beautiful, spirit building book written by Hannah Whitall Smith decades ago. Her desire to convey the true personality of God in "The God of All Comfort" is done with much passion and factuality. Unfortunately, the many quotes of biblical scripture are not referenced, but with a good King James concordance (Strong's, Cruden's) you can find the proper chapter and verse. Overall, this wonderfully written book is clearly one of the best ever produced on this subject, and sooner or later it will be out of print. I encourage everyone interested to buy a copy now before that happens. A really GREAT book!!

This is a favourite book of mine. This book is about how to find comfort in a Christian life. Even though it is written for Christians, I think that people of all faiths might gain from reading this book. The premise of this book is that comfort in our spiritual relationship derives from faith. This faith is a decision. The decision is to decide what we will have faith in: either circumstances or the words in the Bible. If you are interested in peace in your spiritual relationship, this book will be interesting to you.

To me the title makes it sound like a book for those of us in need of sympathetic, "touchy-feely" encouragement. Instead I would say it is a book encouraging us to take God at His word, in spite of how we would want to wallow in our own ways, and thereby finding in Him true "rest for our souls."

To understand Scripture and God in a new light is powerful! For example, the chapter that has recently hit me is on Self-Examination. Too often we in the Church are urged to regularly examine ourselves, a practice that often leads to inward, self-centered and myopic, if not discouraging, spiritual vision. Yet in actuality the Bible tells us only to do this in two different passages: prior to Communion and once said to a church to check if "one is in the faith" - a Yes or No question. From that point, Smith writes that we instead read in Scripture to invite GOD to examine US (not we ourselves), asking HIM to reveal in our lives HIS ways and plans; in other words, we are to focus on HIM, learning of Him, growing toward HIM as a result of it being He who we chose to spend time with, about, and for. Taking our eyes off of ourselves, even when looking inward appears a pious undertaking, and turning our examination toward Him gives freedom from self-focus, inherently grows our relationship with our Lord God, and allows our hearts to be changed not from our own working but from God working in us! This was an incredible change of perspective for me!

Excellent, excellent book!

This small book by Hannah Whithall Smith is a favourite of mine. THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT is about how to find comfort in a Christian life. Even though it is written for Christians, I think that people of all faiths might gain from reading this book. The premise of this book is that comfort in our spiritual relationship derives from faith. This faith is a decision. The decision is to decide what we will have faith in: either circumstances or the words in the Bible. If you are interested in peace in your spiritual relationship, this book will be interesting to you.

It's in the knowing of someone that we can develop trust in who that person truly is. This is precisely what our Creator means for us to do concerning Him. Purpose to know Him, believe Him, understand Him, trust Him. As we come close to God through His written word and prayer, we know Him as our Comforter! This book leads us in that direction.