Comfort

God Understands

COMFORT How does God bring comfort to a sorrowing Heart? In many ways.... Through the presense and kindness of dear ones and friends, Through expressions of love and concern from those who share our sorrow, Through words of sympathy from those who really care. And through His Word! The Bible contains many comforting truths and promises for those who are in sorrow. Commit your sorrow to the Lord in prayer, And receive His peace. The Bible Says... "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

ACCEPTANCE It is not always easy to accept the death of someone we love. If the death is sudden or unexpected, We are usually shocked or stunned. Even when it is expected, It is often hard to believe at first that our friend or loved one is permanently gone. Death is so awesome, so final. The death of someone we know speaks also to us of our own coming death. We may be young or old, but we know that death is no respecter of either person or of age. Death is a fact of life That we must humbly learn to accept. The Bible Says.... There is a time for everything... A time to be born and a time to die. (Ecclesiastes 3:1,2a) Man's days are determined; You have decreed the number of his months And have set limits he cannot exceed. (Job 14:5) Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; Let me know how fleeting is my life. (Psalm 39:4)

FEELINGS How are we supposed to feel when death takes a loved one away? Should we be overwhelmed with sorrow and grief? Or should we be filled with joy because our loved one has been taken home? It simply is not possible to tell someone else How he should feel at the time of a loved one's death. Feelings simply come.... and feelings will sometimes change from one moment to the next. Do not be overly concerned about how you are supposed to feel. Rather, learn to commit all your feelings to the Lord. Be grateful for the times when you feel good. And when sorrow starts to overwhelm you, Remember that God understands and cares. The Bible Says.... The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:17,18)

LOSS When a believer dies, he enters directly Into the presence of his Lord. For the believer, therefore, death is truly a gain, not loss. But for those of us who are left behind, The death of a loved one is often a heavy loss. Widows and widowers, Parents and children, Brothers and sisters, acquaintances and friends May rejoice at the blessing a loved one has gained, But they are often overwhelmed with a sense of thier own deep loss. Is it right to concentrate so strongly on our own sense of loss? Perhaps not, but God understands how deeply we feel. And He promises to stay close beside us in our sorrow. God will never leave us alone. The Bible Says.... Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:1,2)

PRESSURE When a loved one dies, There are many things that have to be taken care of. Funeral arrangments, Financial matters, personal affairs... Important decisions on all kinds of pressing concerns. Our whole being seems to groan under a heavy load of pressure. God understands that pressure. He promises to give you wisdon and strength equal to your tasks. He promises that His grace will be sufficent for you. Do not try to do everything in your own strength. Cast your burdens upon the Lord, And he will surely sustain you. The Bible Says... Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you. He will never let the righteous fall. (psalm 55:22) God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. (Psalm 46:1,2)

ANGER Sometimes the strongest feeling a person has at the time of a loved one's death is anger. Is it really possible? Can someone who is full of sadness and grief also be angry? Yes sometimes. Angry at God for taking your loved one away from you. Angry at doctors for not keeping your loved one alive. Angry at others who talk so lightly about comfort when they have never gone through sorrow themselves. Angry at yourself for not showing more love while you had the opportunity. Let go of your anger! Commit your anger to the Lord. Ask Him to take away the bitterness of your heart. Ask Him to fill your heart with peace. The Bible Says... When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant.... Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. (psalm 73:21-23)

GUILT When we stop to consider what we might have done for our loved ones, We are often burdened with a sense of guilt. There may be many things we wish we could do over. There may be kind words we wanted to say, Or kind deeds we wanted to do, but we always put them off. There may have been amends we intended to make Or things we wanted to set right, but never did. And now it is too late. And so the feelings of guilt add to the sorrow and loss that we already feel. Does God understand these feelings, too? Of course He does! And where we have really failed, God will graciously forgive us if we humbly ask Him too. And then, after we have really failed, Let us begin to speak and live and love as we wish we had done before. The Bible Says.... Turn to me and be gracious to me, For I am lowly and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; Free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress And take away all my sins. (Psalm 25:16-18)

SOLITUDE Visitors and friends are very important to you in your time of sorrow. But it is also very important for you to spend some time alone. When you are alone you can pour out your inmost feelings to your Father in heaven.You can let go the feelings that you did not dare or care to express in public. God understands far better than anyone else exactly how you feel. God is also more patient, more loving and more kind than others. And He will respond in mercy and in love To the deepest feelings of your heart. The Bible Says.... Jesus said, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark 6:31b) I will praise the Lord who councels me; Even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:7,8)

LONELINESS No one really understands what loneliness is Until he has experienced it himself. Widows and widowers know what it means to be lonely. Those who have lost thier dearest friend or a constant companion or a precious child Know what it means to be lonely. An empty chair, a quiet house, silent meals, and long dark nights.... All intensify the awesome feelings of loneliness. Those who have never experienced true loneilness may say they understand but they really don't. But God understands. God understands completely. And God promises to go with you through the long dark valley of your your present loneliness. You may still often FEEL lonely, but you will never be alone! The Bible Says... The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; Do not be discourged. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

VICTORY Those who believe in Jesus Christ Are promised a glorious victory over the power of death. However, final victory does not come Until the day of future resserection. On that great day, the dead in Christ shall rise with bodies full of glory like the resurrection body of Christ Himself. The new bodies of believers will never become sick or suffer or die. There will be no wickedness or iinfirmity or pain. There will be only strength and health With perfect soundness in every part. When that time comes, our victory in Jesus will be finally complete. Death will be no more, and sorrow and sighing will forever flee away. The Bible Says.... God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, For the old order of things has passed away. (Revelation 21:3,4)

INVITATION Victory and glory are promised to everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Those who trust in Jesus have no fear of death And are not afraid of the coming judgement. If you have not yet put your trust in Jesus, I invite you to do so now By praying the following prayer or a similar prayer of your own. "Dear God, Please be merciful to me and take away the guilt of all my failures and sins. I believe that Jesus died and rose again for me, And in humble trust I now accept from you the precious gift of everlasting life. In Jesus' name. Amen."

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