Not Left Comfortless

My third daughter is 28 years old, has Down Syndrome, and is significantly impacted by autism. When she was three, she developed an aggressive rash on her right leg above her knee. The rash was red, hot, and bubbly. She had a fever of 103.6. We took her to the doctor. Even in the short time we were at the doctor's office, the rash doubled in size.

Immediately, the doctor sent us up to Primary Children’s Hospital so she could receive IV antibiotics for an infection called erysipelas. Thankfully, that night, my dad and husband also gave her a priesthood blessing.

My husband stayed with her in the hospital the first night. I stayed with our other children. The high fever and medicine made her sleepy. On the second night, I stayed with her.

She was hooked up to wires to monitor everything as well as to the IV. In the middle of the night, she started to cry, constant and uncontrollable crying, for hours at a time. The autism that makes it hard for her to communicate now hadn’t yet caused communication regression, so she was still able to communicate through a few words and some sign language. She looked at me and signed, “All done now.” She was ready to go home.

My heart broke for her. She didn’t understand what was happening. She just wanted it all to stop, to be all done, and to go home. There was absolutely nothing I could do. So, I prayed. I couldn’t understand why this was happening to her. Or to me.

Then, in the semi-darkness of the hospital, as I prayed, these words entered my mind, “I will not leave you comfortless.” Those words gave me some peace. Comfort entered my heart and mind. I no longer felt alone. It made it possible for me to try to comfort my daughter and to go on.

I later wondered, were those words "I will not leave you comfortless" a real scripture? Or just words to me? So I looked it up.

The words are found in the Bible, King James Version, John 14:18. Jesus was talking to his disciples who were surely concerned about what would happen when He wasn’t with them. Here are verses 16-18:

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

Jesus Christ doesn't come to most of us physically, but everyone in the world can be influenced by the Light of Christ and can have the opportunity to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Because of Jesus Christ, we can be filled with the peace and comfort we need. I know He will not leave us comfortless in our pains, trials, illness, anxiety, questions, and fears.