There are have been
times in my own life when the sorrow of my heart was so great I could only cry
out in grief, anger and despair. At those times, no words could reach my aching
heart. I have yelled at God, demanding to know why He could allow such pain and
then cry into the darkness.
Today I know there are
many families dealing with their inconsolable grief and loss. I do not know
them personally but I can pray. Millions of us are praying for these families
who were victims of senseless violence.
Recently, I was gifted with a wrist bracelet with two words on it, Only
God. I do not have answers for, “Why?” I
do not have answers for, “How could a loving God allow this to happen?” All I
know is that through the dark valleys of my own life, through the grief and
despair only God has been able to
help me through.
I don’t discount human
kindness and compassion, but when all is said and done, there are wounds of the
soul that only a supernatural act of God can reach. There is a trite saying,
“Time heals all wounds.” Personally I think that’s bunk. Time does not heal all
wounds. I only have to listen to the stories of my clients to know beyond a
shadow of a doubt that time doesn’t heal any deep, gaping sorrow. Only God can
heal the broken-hearted. I wrote and sang a song once, a mournful cry of a soul
recounting the only comfort for a broken heart.
He
is the God of the broken-hearted
He
is the God makes the blind eyes see
He
is the God who heals my sorrow,
He
is the God who healeth Thee.
He
is Jehovah, Lord God Almighty,
Everlasting
king is He.
And
He will answer when you call Him
And
your help and comfort be.
It
is a weird kind of Christmas. People are unsure of what to do, how to celebrate
now in the midst of the awareness of these tragedies. Life can’t just ‘return
to normal’. We as a nation have been changed, our sense of wholeness and safety
torn as the realization comes, once again, life is fragile, and easily taken by
a whim of a tortured soul.
For
me, daily facing the horrors of life can be, as clients share their tortured
childhoods, violent pasts, troubled hearts and minds, it is again a challenge
to seek God to find hope in the middle of the horror; to find peace in the
midst of the storm. Answering the question, “How can I be happy in the middle
of these realities? How can I celebrate in the middle of knowing people are
suffering horribly?” I can only say I will pray and seek God. I will mourn in
spirit for the death of these children and adults. Through that mourning I will
try to value the moments I have with my own loved ones, however fleeting. To
continue to try to share the love of Christ with the people I work with at the
treatment center, knowing that no matter how much I give, it is only as people
turn to Jesus that they will discover for themselves the strength to live in
the midst of an uncertain, at times frightening world.
To each of you trying to rediscover
the joy of the season may God grant you a renewed revelation of Himself, His love
and His healing and His peace.
Psalms
23: 1- 4
The
Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green
meadows, He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides
me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the
dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your
rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
Only God…………….
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