United in Grief but what do we Do?

As the nation grieves the loss of our leaders, the sting of death really did strike very close because one of the pilots Sis Nancy who died in the Sunday helicopter crash was a member of our church. As a church we have since continued to meet and pray at her house every day in the hope that we can give solace to the family members in such a moment of grief. Yesterday in the meeting one of our ladies shared a testimony quoting a phrase in the marriage vows when couples promise to love, respect and accept one another “… through all of the changing circumstances of life…”

This really struck a chord in my heart that life and our experience of it is never constant. Life is changing, and we and those close to us are also changing. Some changes are for good while others for worse, whichever the case, we are to adjust accordingly to accommodate those changes. No amount of complain, blame shifting or fault finding can turn around certain things. Once they occur they are irreversible.   Yet the God we serve the remains the same. The Bible says in Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.” This should come to us as an encouragement, that there is one in whom we can find strength because He never changes. His love for us remains constant.

Yes as a nation we have been hit hard by the death of our leaders and as a church the death of our beloved sister. Yet as we mourn for them,we do so with hope because we look up to Christ.  He is the rock of ages where we can stand firm regardless of circumstances. He is moved with compassion for our sake.   

“…We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities....” 

As Lutzer says in the Seven Convincing Miracles, ‘if you and I were given an opportunity to create a Messiah we would create one that does not weep because he understands the eternal purposes of God,’ but the Jesus we serve is not like that. He weeps at the grave of His friend Lazarus though he knows He will raise Him from the dead in a few minutes. 

Let us mourn but do so in hope. Death is irreversible this side of eternity but we must face the future with optimism. As I shared in my previous blog, we should “Be on your (our) Guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love (1Cor 16:13). His love will cushion our hearts to overcome discouragement and to face the future with hope so we can say boldly;

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  ³⁶ As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."  ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Through all of the changing circumstances of life, you surely can find solace in Christ’s love.