Proverbs 20:24 TLB “Since the Lord is directing our steps, why try to understand everything that happens along the way?”
Where is the Lord when grief overwhelms? It was a few days ago that I got word of the death of Sarah, the daughter of dear friends. It makes absolutely no sense. She was in her prime at 41 years of age and had just begun her first teaching job and found “what she was meant to be”. A mother of three children ages 5, 11 and 12, an anointed worship leader along with her husband, and just an amazing woman who loved Jesus with all of her being. She apparently had contracted a virulent bacterial infection recently and in one day's time in the hospital she went to meet Jesus face-to-face. There are no words of comfort, only a strong desire to hug her mom and dad tightly and share in their pain.
I worked closely with Sarah’s mother and father. He was my pastor and I chaired the missions committee. Pastor Andy and Margie were a continual encouragement as both had a heart for missions. We were a team, and God did amazing things. Andy and Margie have been through the fire, and they will come through this loss, but it will be a long journey of deep grieving. Sarah died on Margie’s birthday. I have struggled to make any sense of this, and I cannot, nor can anyone.
Where do we go with our grief? There is only one source, the Word of God. Even when we are numb and cannot pray, the Word washes over us and comforts us as nothing else can. “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8 NLT
Oh may we be sensitive to those in deep grief. May we treat them with gentleness and compassion, speaking very few words. There are no human words of comfort; only the Holy Spirit can whisper to their spirit: “I’ve got you, you are not suffering alone.”
O my word, such a tragedy. I am so sorry for all!