Today’s Daily Bread ~ Comfort through loss

Psalm 27:1 – The LORD is my light and my salvation – so why should I be afraid?  The LORD protects me from danger – so why should I tremble?

Have you ever heard of the “Pregnant Woman Syndrome?”  The psychology of it is this:  you never really notice pregnancy until you (or your wife) becomes pregnant.  Then, because it has taken center stage in your life, you all of the sudden see pregnant women or babies everywhere you go.  It also happens with new cars.  I grew up in a Ford family.  When Mike and I bought our Trailblazer six years ago I swear I couldn’t go anywhere without seeing at least a dozen identical models.  Insert anything – the theory is the same.  Anytime something takes center stage in your life, you start to notice it everywhere else.

Recently a man who frequented our Sunday school class passed away.  Yesterday, I had a conversation with a dear woman who’d lost both of her parents in a short span of time.  Yesterday was also the birthday of a dear friend’s father, who died a year ago.  Another member of our church recently suffered a massive and unexpected heart attack, and died leaving a wife and family.  In a three week period, death has suddenly appeared on my radar.

To be perfectly honest, the only comfort I can ever offer a mourning friend is an ear and a hug.  I’ve never lost anyone in my inner circle.  I’ve certainly seen it up close:  two classmates my sophomore and senior years of high school; a grandfather to an unexpected stroke in his 60s, and more recently my father’s parents.  But I was ten when my mother’s dad passed away, and my father’s parents had lived long, full lives.  I cannot say, “I know just how you feel.” 

I’m uncomfortable even writing about death, as if it somehow invites the grim reaper into my home.  But recently, the Holy Spirit has been calling my attention to it.  Perhaps it’s because losing my children or my husband is my greatest fear, and He wants to release me from it.  Perhaps it’s because we’ll all face it someday.  I don’t know.  But He spoke to my heart on it the other day, and is calling me to share it with you.

We have two trees in our front yard that shed acorns like the burden of the world’s tree population rests solely on them.  One day, bored, the kids and I were having a contest to see who could throw them the farthest down the street.  “Caitlyn, Nick,” I said, “Did you know that in this acorn is a tree waiting to grow?”  Two pairs of wide eyes looked straight at me.  “It’s true,” I replied.  “Those trees in our yard came from little bitty acorns just like this.”

Caitlyn looked at the tree, looked at the acorn, and looked at me.  “Where does the acorn go when the tree comes out?” she asked.  I thought about it for a moment, then answered, “Well honey, remember learning about the caterpillar and the butterfly in school?”  She nodded as Nick continued to happily chuck acorns down the street, squealing in delight.  “It’s the same thing.  The acorn was never meant to stay an acorn.  It was meant to change into a big, beautiful tree.”

As I said those words, a lump started to form in my throat.  “Just like you,” whispered the Holy Spirit.  “You were never meant to stay here.  I created you to live forever with me.”  The words of Paul the Apostle came to mind:  “What I’m saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.  These perishable bodies of ours are not able to live forever (1 Corinthians 15:50).”

I’m reminded of that every time I look in the mirror.  Every time a new gray hair pops up, or a new line appears on my face.  My knees won’t let me run long distances like they used to, and I can’t exist on five hours of sleep like I did in college. 

I’ve recently struck up a friendship with a woman who’s endured two brain surgeries with an excruciating recovery.  Another friend was in a minor car accident that left her with major back problems.  A popular local pastor is living with incurable brain cancer.  My 92 year old grandmother can scarcely bend her fingers, so bad is her rheumatoid arthritis.  Let’s face it, we all have expiration dates.

Life is difficult, and no one crosses the finish line unscarred.  Jesus warned His disciples to expect it, but with it, issued a statement of comfort:  “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33).”

Life is full of challenges and pitfalls, sorrows and storms, but through it all we have this as our hope:  “There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you.  If this were not so, I would tell you plainly.  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”  This place is not our home.  We weren’t created for this.  We were created to live forever in fellowship with the Father.  We have a room in His house and a place at His table.  And this is what the Holy Spirit is pressing into my very soul – “I am far more interested in your eternal salvation than your immediate comfort.”  God will certainly let us go through trials and tribulations to mold us and shape into the people He means for us to be, and to bring others to Jesus.  Our job is not to do everything in our power to make this life comfortable, but rather to prepare us and those in our circle of influence for eternity. 

Dear Heavenly Father, we know that we will not understand Your ways in this life, so please just give us You.  We can endure the trials if we constantly feel the warmth of Your Presence.  Please comfort those of us who grieve, and heal our hurts.  Help us to remember Jesus, and everything He went through to reconcile us to You.  When the path before us looks too hard, help us to remember the cross.  Give us wisdom and discernment.  Help us to hear You when You speak to us through the Holy Spirit.  Help us to shine Your light through our storms.  Multiply our faith exponentially, and give us strength and courage.  Let our lives be a living testimony to Your love.  We love You so much, and we pray these things in a spirit of expectancy and victory, as we pray in the precious, beautiful name of Your Son, our Savior, Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.