The past several months have had a lot of grief all around many people I know and people whom I do not know. I don't have to look far to see brokenness. The world is full of hurt in all different shapes and sizes. My heart has been heavy lately because there are so many lives being taken away at all different ages. Just about every week, there's another memorial service. You may be reading this, and are someone who has lost someone dear to you. There isn't anything that I can say that could take the pain away completely, because grief is just very painful and very real. I've been there, and I still have my hurts that will last a lifetime but the only thing that gives me hope, is from God alone. The title of this blog is definitely very different, compared to the previous titles I've had, but when we go through tough times, this question gets asked. We may feel that God has left us, or is so distant from us and doesn't understand what we are going through. Perhaps we don't believe He cares.
There are many different thoughts that come across our minds in this but God understands. I can tell you that He is never too far away, or not there at all. He has you engraved in the palm of His hands and will never let you go. Go ahead and cry out to Him and talk to Him like your best friend,because that's exactly Who He is. He loves you more than anyone in the world, and loves you more than you can possibly comprehend. Life is full of hard times. Some people seem to have more than others, and it may seem like some don't have any at all. We don't know what the person next to us is going through, but that's not for us to know. God knows. Right now, God says to give your worries, and troubles, and absolutely everything to Him. Let Him carry the load you have on your shoulders. He will always walk with you and carry you. You never have to go alone. Actually, you were created to need Him. You can't do it alone, no matter how hard you try. We need a Savior every moment of our lives.
If you are going through grief right now, or some other difficult storm in life, I can't promise you that you are going to not feel pain or hurt when clinging to God, but I can promise you that you will have a peace, and joy and reassurance that only He can give. I can also promise you that you will be comforted in ways that you never have before and will have a hope. Death is not a pretty thing, but it is a part of life. We are all going to die one day, unless Jesus returns before we do. If you were to die right now, are you positive you will be going to heaven? Jesus is the One and only way to heaven. It takes more than believing Jesus exists, and believing that He died on the cross. Satan himself believes that much. We need to have a relationship with Him. God wants us to come to Him, and accept Him into our hearts. He wants us to love Him above all and to give our lives over to Him. You may be afraid of the word "surrender." Let me tell you something. Surrendering to God doesn't mean you will be captive and not have a free life. It actually means being more free than you could ever be before. You don't have to fear death, or shame, or anything because of Christ's love and ultimate sacrifice for you. Your life will become complete with God in it. Without God in your life, you will always try to find something to fill that void, but God and God alone can fill it. Material goods, drugs, alcohol, money, and everything else in the world can never fill that void. All of those things are useless, when we think about it. They don't make us happy, nor complete, nor do they satisfy, because we are always going to be longing for more. Not only does God meet every need but He gives us more than enough. he also gives us love, peace, hope, and fills our hearts with assurance that we would never have without Him. He gave up His life on the cross, so that we can have eternal life with Him in heaven and not eternal death in hell. All we have to do is accept Him and His amazing grace for us. God is ever faithful and always will be. He is always there for you, and loves you more than you could know.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5
"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3:22-26
"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11 (Favorite Bible verse.)
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
One of my favorite speakers in Jennifer Rothschild. I saw a video the other day with her and Krik Cameron. I encourage you to watch it. It's only 10 minutes long, but very true, and well said. I will close with this: no matter what happens in life, just know that God does care, and holds you tightly to Him, and He is good all the time.
