Oct 9th, 2020: Being with God in time of Suffering

 

Prayers During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Listening to a father who shared with me the memories of his daughter was heart-wrenching. She was full of life and giving spirit. She was planning to become a nurse so that she could help people. It was a horrible automobile accident that took her away from her parents and two siblings. None of them is coping very well with grief. He was going through all kinds of emotions: a longing for her, anger, disbelief, sadness.

"Where is God?" was the question he asked even though he would not call himself a believer. He goes to church because his wife is attending one. That is a fair question because we want to know how God stands with us in our suffering. My comfort in time of suffering is to believe that I am with God, and He is in me while I am suffering. There is no emotion or pain that He doesn't understand and embrace. It is ok to be angry at God in grieving.

His wife has not wanted to see a counselor with him because she was afraid that someone would tell her that she needs to let go and forget. We don't forget while mourning over the loss of a loved one. We learned to be thankful for having him or her. We allow ourselves to experience the deepest pathway of pain so that we can be free from its imprisonment. We have that freedom because of the redemption we have in Jesus.

"I want to be able to be hopeful when I think of her," he told me toward the end of our time together. I asked him to share some of the beautiful moments that he experienced with her. He talked about her enthusiasm for God, her childlike excitement when she learned something new, and her amazing smile that would make his days. Hope comes from God's beauty and promises.

He told me that he would like to meet again next week. He realized that he needs to talk to someone. I encourage him to let God in. God is waiting by the door and knocking. Sharing our pain with someone helps us be aware of God's presence more and more. We prayed for a short time, and he then just sad quietly. So did I. God was talking with him. It was a wonderful moment.

Isaiah 43: 2
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

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