January 2021 has a heightened my awareness of death
Although COVID-19 has been around for some time now, this month death has hit really close to home
Within 24 hours I got news that my grandpa and an ACU student involved with Young Life College both passed away
Since then it has felt like a wave of never ending news of people dying, most not from COVID-19
This month I have battled with how to grieve as well as how to comfort those grieving around me
How do you comfort a girl who lost a brother?
How do you comfort a friend who suddenly lost a dad?
How do you comfort a husband who lost a wife to suicide?
& how do you comfort those who have lost loved ones after knowing it’s been coming for months or years?
Jesus wept. John 11:35
If you have lost a loved one, truth is there are no words that can heal your broken heart or amount of hugs that can take the pain away
Yes, there is so much hope in Jesus. And we can know that they are truly in a better place as they stand in the presence of God free from pain. And we can rejoice in the fact that we will be reunited one day.
But that doesn’t take away the pain of no longer getting to have them here and now
We can‘t mask the pain of losing someone we love by a blanket statement, even if it’s the truth
We have to allow ourselves to feel our emotions, greive and mourn
Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
Jesus doesn’t tell us to avoid emotion or pretend we aren’t hurting
He enters into the pain with us
He weeps with us
He comforts us
& in time through His Holy Spirit He heals our broken heart
”The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit” Psalm 34:18
“He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
Until the return of Jesus, death still stings
Your emotions are valid and your pain is real
God doesn’t want you to slap a Bible verse on your pain and call it good
He wants to be in the pain with you
He wants to sit with you and weep with you because He love you and has compassion on you
He wants to comfort you where no words can comfort
He wants to reminisce on all the memories with you
& in His love He heals our heart and gives joy and peace that are unexplainable
If you are trying to comfort someone who has lost someone they love, show up, be in the pain with them, weep with them and allow the Lord to heal and comfort in ways we will never understand
Peace I leave with you; MY peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
I love you and I’m in this with you!
Please don‘t hesitate to reach out if you just need someone to listen and be in the pain with you! (806) 577-0738
