Wednesday, March 30, 2011

In the midst of Grief......


When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.” Isaiah 43:2

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How should we deal with grief? Ever since the event of September 11, 2001, the world seems to take a new dangerous turn. Natural disasters alone are enough to keep people running scared. There are more kidnapping than ever before and numerous gun-related shouting. Child abuse does even shock us anymore, it is part of our current event, but how do we deal with all of it? Do we run to the pharmacy for Valium like the world does? Should we sleep through life or should we face our grief head on? A friend told me the other day that he was thinking of moving somewhere safer than here. A place where there will be no hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquake, tsunami, ect. Sounds like heaven! So I told him to sign me up too. The truth is that God is Omniscient, Omnipotent, Beginning and End. He is everywhere at the same time. We cannot escape His presence. He is able to protect us wherever we are. We don’t have to run scared and stay up all night. When dealing with grief, we can still trust God. We can still rely on His peace.

One of the lessons I recently learned is that we have to put the Word of God to good use. It’s nice to read the Word if you like a good story because the Bible got it all (from love and betrayal, to mystery and miracles. But you will get excited about the Word of God when you realize that it’s more than just a collection of stories. It is not only a guideline provided by our heavenly father to carry us through adversity it is also a book of life. The same power that raises Jesus from the dead is available to us. We are children of God. He is in us and us in Him. When dealing with grief we must call on God’s power. Naturally, our flesh cannot take much grief. But greater He who is in you.....

The Word God in the above scripture didn’t say we wouldn’t pass through the waters, but it did promise to be with us when we do. Glory! When you go through the fire, you will not be scorched, so why are you afraid? You already know the outcome. When all is said and done, you are going to be alright. So how do you deal with grief? One well-liked preacher had this to say about it "You do it with courage and faith, holding to God’s promises and by continuing to praise Him through it all. You are not another ordinary, lonely person. You are a special, extraordinary, legitimate son/daughter of the Living God."

Friend, stop trying to believe in God. Take it up to the next level by actually putting your faith in Him. It’s time to stop being a spectator, watching God work wonders in other people lives. It’s time to be part of it all and claim your inheritance. Once you do that, changes will start to take place in your life. I am so excited this morning, are you excited? You and I have nothing to fear. We are never alone. In the middle of a Summer full of bad news God gives us a reason to smile, to hope and to move forward and to continue to trust him.

Love, serve and praise God, trust and rely on in His might with your whole heart. Walk closely with Him in the good times and through your grief. Remember, God will not take your cares away from you. You have to give them to Him. As hard as it is, you are the one responsible to keep your thoughts under control, but you can do it, “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” 1 John 4:4

Praise the Lord!