What can you say?

What can you say to a man whose eyes, normally rich with laughter, are dark with grief? What do you say to him when he will never hear his wife call his name again? What do you say when you see strong shoulders, which once carried laughing daughters, now crumbled and shaking? What can you do when you cannot hear the humor and joy in his voice because they are drowned out by the weeping of the past two weeks?

What do you say to him when he doesn't share the hope of Jesus' claim

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.

The memorial service yesterday was moving and beautiful - but where a family was, it is no longer. How do you respond to the cry, "Where was God in all of this?!" or "How could God allow this to happen?!"

Yes, I can point to the Cross and show that God knows what it is like to have an innocent and beloved child die a terrible death. I can talk about the boundless love of God that He would plan for His Son to die on that Cross for our sins, so that He could offer full and free forgiveness to us when we accept His wondrous gift... But somehow, in the midst of the grief, God just asked me to be quiet, to pray, and to offer my love and sorrow in support.

Perhaps one day, the prayers and supplications you-all have sent up to the Throne will be answered, and this good man will be able to rise up with praise on his lips and renewed joy in his heart.

So please keep praying!

In the meantime, One Wise Girl posted this video this morning which I'd like to pass on

As for me, I want to thank all my friends who have been praying for ME! The blessing you have given surpasses all understanding. Let me post the lyrics to Jeremy Camp's song, "I Still Believe," and you'll see where I am right now -

Scattered words and empty thoughts
Seem to pour from my heart
I've never felt so torn before
Seems I don't know where to start
But its now that I feel Your grace fall like rain
From every fingertip washing away my pain

I still believe in Your faithfulness
I still believe in Your truth
I still believe in Your holy word
Even when I don't see, I still believe

Though the questions still fog up my mind
With promises I still seem to bear
Even when answers slowly unwind
It's my heart I see You prepare
But its now, that I feel, Your grace fall like rain
From every fingertip washing away my pain

I still believe in Your faithfulness
I still believe in Your truth
I still believe in Your holy word
Even when I don't see, I still believe

Well the only place I can go is into Your arms
Where I throw to You my feeble prayers well in brokenness
I can see that this was Your will for me
Help me to know that You are near

I still believe in Your faithfulness
I still believe in Your truth
I still believe in Your holy word
Even when I don't see, I still believe

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Comments

[Adam Graham]

1.

There definitely are no pat easy answers to these questions. I'll be sure to say a prayer for you. God bless, Cat.

[Red Queen]

2.

Kat, It seems that there has been a great deal of pain shared this past month on our little blogesphere. God has not promised us an easy life, but he has promised to not let us fall from his grasp, that is our comfort and our grace. He knows your pain and my pain and everyone else's pain and still has enough love and mercy for the rest of the world at the very same time. What an awesome God we believe in Sis. Chin up, He hears and He knows.

[Ogre]

3.

As Red Queen mentions --

Jesus never said life would be easy. He just said that he'll never leave our side as long as we want Him there.

[Raven]

4.

Well this is a hard one.

To those who don't believe, or who are skeptical, events like this strengthen their position. It's pretty hard to explain why a loving God would allow, as it were, children to die so quickly and without warning. And, with the family issues perhaps present, it can come across as being totally cruel for a God to punish the living by means of taking away their loved ones. Many people who don't fully believe (skeptics) see the living as being pawns to God. It's sad, maybe, but they way it is for so many. They also see the living as pawns to the so called Devil too...

Having faith seems like a wonderful thing. I'm not there yet and still have too many questions I've asked, and never seen evidence of an answer. I think, too, many are too concrete in their thinking (like me..)

Its best to not say anything religious to people like the cousin who have been through such a horrible loss. It adds fuel to their fires of disbelief. Just being there, offering support in other ways is best. IMHO.