Isaiah, Chapter 40 begins with these words:  "Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the LORD'S hand double for all her sins."  I have always read these words along with the rest of this chapter to reflect the glory and majesty of God's actions in the life of Israel.  God was doing magnificent things for this nation, and was promising comfort to a nation that was in distress, in the midst of bondage and exile.
  Not long ago, I received a new perspective on this scripture.  Like I said before, I had always thought of the prophet Isaiah promising comfort for the people of God, which is an important part of this scripture.  But, this scripture helped me to see the personal side of this comfort.  God does not just stand beside a nation in despair.  God also stands beside individuals in the midst of their troubles.  God stands beside you when you are in the midst of any difficulties, whether big or small.
  When the prophet Isaiah writes these words, "Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God," go ahead and think of groups of people whose suffering is easy to identify, but also think of the places and times in your life where you have felt the comfort of God in your life.  Sometimes God's comfort comes through a sermon or a class at church.  Sometimes God's comfort comes through a mother's touch, or even the smile or the kind word of a stranger.
  It is important to realize that all of us have the need for God's comfort in our lives.  When I think of this, it changes my perspective on every encounter that I have with other people.