LOSS
A devotional talking about experience of loss and the how we can be there for others as the family of God
SCRIPTURE:
…and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.
—John 11:19–
THOUGHT:
The brutality of this pandemic never seemed to acute as this morning. A friend of mine, lost a family member today. Not to COVID 19, but to a natural death. So you wonder what that has to do with our current situation. Well, her relative lives in another country and she is unable to go to the funeral because of the pandemic restrictions. I spoke to her today and she is so broken up. She understands that she will see her family member again someday in Heaven, but it doesn’t change the natural grief that she is experiencing. Nor does it relieve her feelings of sadness of not being able to join in the love and camaraderie of her family members as they celebrate the life of their loved one.
This pandemic has changed everything for us. Before March, she would not have thought more than a second about traveling to be with her family for the service. Yet, now, she is not only unable to be with them, but also is alone here. We talk to her and try to console and comfort her but it is not the same as with family members so far away.
In the Bible, there are many instances of loss and how to cope with the feelings that go along with such a sadness. When Lazarus died, before Jesus performed a miracle and He brought Lazarus forth from the grave, He grieved. The shortest verse in the Bible is the reaction of Jesus upon learning of the death of His friend. “Jesus wept.” Although it is the shortest verse, it is so telling. It tells of Jesus’ human side. His Divinity knew of the upcoming miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. Yet, His human side felt the grief of losing a friend. He felt human emotion. He understood grief and loss. He understood the need for family. He comforted Martha and Mary, comprehending the poignant and biting loss in which they found themselves. They were not left alone in their grief. They had each other and they had their Savior and friend.
When we experience loss, Jesus can be there for us too. He is our family member. The family of God. God, the Creator is our Father, our parent. God, the Son is our brother and Savior. God, the Holy Spirit is our Comforter, who brings us solace in times such as these. So, although she knows she cannot fly to a distant country to be with her family. She also is a true and strong believer who knows that physically being there is not as important as knowing that she will see her family again someday. What a day of rejoicing that will be!
So, yes, the pandemic has literally stolen away our most beloved moments. It has stolen the opportunities to be together. It has stolen the physical closeness.
Yet, it cannot abscond what we, as believers, have always possessed. We are always part of a family as Christians. We can rally around each other with prayer. The Holy Spirit is in our hearts and souls and will guide us through any type of loss.
If Jesus can weep, we can also cry out in grief. The important part to remember though is that Someone hears our hearts. God created us to grieve, Jesus saved us from our grieving sins, and the Holy Spirit lives inside our very souls to relieve that grief and free us from feeling alone.
Call someone who is grieving or sad or disheartened. Text someone who is reaching out for comfort. Email someone who is alone and away from their family.
Show them the family of God.
PRAYER:
God, our Father, thank you again for our brother Jesus Christ and thank you for what He did for us. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who You left with us in order to help us navigate this journey of ups and downs. Thank you Jesus for being fully Divine and also fully human because we can truly know that we are understood by you. You fill us. Our losses are felt fully by You. You fill the hole in our heart with your abounding consolation.
AMEN.
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