Recently, two people in my life have lost someone very close to them.
A young woman lost her mother suddenly. Her mother was only 62, had not been sick. She left to be with the Lord the Sunday before Mother's Day.
A long-time friend lost her daughter-in-law this morning, Memorial Day. My friend's son and his wife have a 14 year old daughter and a son who is graduating from high school this Friday.
How does a person handle such grief and sorrow?
I have no idea.
I just know that we have a Father who has experienced the grief of losing His Son at a young age, at the height of His ministry. He died a torturous death. It wasn't sudden and it wasn't of natural causes. He promises to give us the grace and strength we need for those times.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
1 Peter 5:10
I know that the resurrection life takes on a very personal meaning.
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. Romans 6:4-5
I know that God's comfort, His hope, and His peace give us His Presence in the present.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19a
The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Exodus 13:14
I know that our tears matter to God.
You have taken account of my wanderings;
Put my tears in Your bottle
Are they not in Your book?
Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call;
This I know, that God is for me. Psalm 56:8-9
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
Psalm 126:5
I don't know that kind of sorrow and grief,
but I know our Lord does.
And He cares. And He comforts.
That I do know.
