It’s impossible to overlook all the lament in Psalm 119. The psalmist repeatedly groans under the burden of his persecutors. They surround him, press in on him, mock him, and smear his reputation with their lies. At the brink of despair, the psalmist cries out to God, “My eyes fail looking for your promise; I say, ‘When will you comfort me?’”

We don’t know the identity of the psalmist, but we can be certain that God kept his promises and comforted him eventually. How can we be certain of this?

We can be certain that God answered the psalmist’s prayer because of the assurance Jesus gives in Matthew’s gospel: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus’ promise is for all of God’s children, in both the Old Testament era and the New Testament age. Indeed, Jesus’ coming to our world to rescue sinners from eternal death—the consequence of our rebellion against God—is indisputable evidence that God hears our desperate cries for comfort.

Though he might not answer our appeals as we expect or as soon as we want, God will answer our cries in his perfect timing. Jesus is flesh-and-blood proof of that.

What is your only comfort in life and in death?