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CHRISTIAN LIVING TODAY
Anita
Our attention has been riveted by recent reports and posts about the heartbreaking tragedy.
Each new update shares more loss of adults and children — of families. Each report adds heaviness to our hearts, and our minds search to understand how such devastation could even happen. We hear comments like, “Never in recorded history,” or, “Never before in my lifetime.”
My heart is heavy. Grief fills my soul.
In the early 1990s, I heard a phrase: “America has become a death-denying culture.”
This means our society, in general, expects the effects of grief to abate far too soon, reflecting a lack of understanding about the process and effects of grief.
There is no quick fix to tragedy, no comforting phrase that can soothe the hearts of parents, spouses or children who suffer loss. Collectively, we grieve special people and relationships, cherished places and marred beauty.
Does God care? Scripture certainly says yes.
“He has sent Jesus to comfort all who mourn.” (Isaiah 61:1b-2) “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) And good biblical counsel reminds us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) God created us with emotion. Through my own experiences, I’ve come to realize that grief, too, is a God-given emotion.
Think about it — we only feel grief when we suffer loss. Otherwise, we may feel sadness or concern for the troubles of others, but when loss is personal — touching our life, our family, our group — that is when we feel grief.
God is so good, for He provides us with a way to process such pain. So thank God for grief, for it is His tool to help us. Do not sidestep, repress or run from it.
What can we do? We can listen to others’ pain — repeatedly, if need be. We can sit silently, for our presence speaks loudly enough.
It says, “I care.” We can pray — pray for the comfort only God gives, for peace of mind and heart, for the difficult adjustments people face as they process grief.
My heart is sad. I care. I’m praying, and I invite you to join me. Until next week, Anita Onarecker, an Elgin resident, author of “ Divine Appointment: Our Journey to the Bridge” and minister to women and adults, earned a Master of Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007.
