With great sorrow, I mourn with the community of Davie
County, for a life that has ended so early in life. Rather than ease the pain with clichés of
“there’s a reason for everything” or “God needing an extra person,” may we
comfort each other and find hope in the God who surpasses all understanding.
I don’t have the answers for why people get sick. I don’t have the answers for why people are
filled with hatred or hurt other people.
I don’t even have the answers for why people die before we would like
them to. I just don’t. And neither does anyone else.
 |
| www.flickr.com |
I would like to think that God doesn’t allow bad things to
happen to good people. But then again,
what’s the good in that? Bad things do
happen to good people. No, it is a not a
sign of a gap in their faith, nor a test of their faith. If we are to believe that God gives us free
will, then we have no room to blame the evil deeds of our peers on him. It is complicated, no doubt, hard to understand.
Grief is a necessary emotion; Jesus grieved over the passing
of a beloved friend in John 11:35. The
disciples grieved the persecution of their Savior, Mary grieved the loss of her
son, Moses grieved for the oppression of his people, and many more.
In the book of Hebrews, we are reminded that God will never
leave us nor forsake us (13:5). Though
we do not understand the depths or breadth of God, nor do we understand the
many facets of humanity, we can put our hope on the shoulders of someone much
larger, our Heavenly Father.
Take the time to grieve, it’s important. When the time has come, you will know when
you can move on. Find comfort in those
around you, express your struggles and complaints to God, give thanks for his
continued presence, and share the love of Christ to God’s people.
As you seek to minister to those around you, hang around,
hug, and hush. The ministry of presence
speaks louder than words. Be available
to talk and pray, let them know you love and care for them, and then listen
without trying to explain the grief away.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7
Thank you for writing. It takes courage and whit. If we all had the strength to share our voice in love, the world might would be a better place.
ReplyDelete'
This is exactly how I have been this week with a loss in my home community, and the possible poisoning of ~8,000 people in Pamlico county...I would like to share something of my own
It was intrusive, but when it struck I wrote:
When someone says: "leave me alone"
_Don't pester or annoy them farther, but never completely leave them (even a small child or an elder for we are all bound in our humanity)by themselves that way, when they come back to themselves they will find you waiting there with them, and they will NOT be alone, but will find the friend that they need.
as a side note: I can not be your Rock (firm foundation {stableness in a world of change}), but I can tell you of mine!
~Randy Brock Winders
Thank you for sharing. What a wonderful gift it is to be there when they turn to a friend in their time of need. Wonderful advice!
Delete