As we saw the devastation of people who lost their lives, including the precious children in the Moore, OK tornado, all of our hearts grieved. Regarding grief, Jesus said, "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you". Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. Matthew 5:4 (The Message) Jesus promises to embrace and comfort us when we grieve. Sometimes we struggle to allow ourselves to grieve which only delays experiencing His comfort.
When our daughter, Bekah, was born with Down syndrome, Ellen and I grieved for days. Why? Because we had lost a perfect child and there is no cure for people born with that extra chromosome added to the 21 pair.
Grieving is the deep feeling of loss. It can be the loss of a friendship, our health, a family relationship, someone we loved who died, a child's future, our marriage, a healthy child, all or most of our finances, virginity, the love of a parent, and more.
Everyone grieves, but we don't have to stay stuck there. Jesus said in our grief that He can meet us and comfort us like no one else can. He comforts us often by what He says to us and His presence in us as our Life.
A couple of days after our daughter, Bekah, with Down syndrome, was born, I was grieving deeply as I rocked her in my arms. I kept asking God "Why?" He gently spoke a verse of scripture to me that I had not memorized. "The LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" Exodus 4:11. The Lord was saying to me, "I am Sovereign and I am the One who made Bekah with Down syndrome." He was exhorting me to trust Him. That was the beginning of Jesus comforting me and working me through my grief. Later, He reminded me that Jesus is my Life, not a healthy child. That is when my grief was replaced with His comfort.
Another time, our family was at a lunch for our church small group. One of our boys accidentally kicked another of our sons in the eye when they were wrestling. I spoke with him rather sternly about how dangerous it was to kick someone in the eye. Later, when all of the families were ready to leave, this son was nowhere to be found. We were meeting in our church building and we searched everywhere. Finally, he came walking around the building because he had been hiding in the back. I grieved that he had chosen to respond like that. Yet, as we were leaving, I turned to Ellen and said, "I sure am glad we don't get our identity from our children." You see, in my grief for our son, I was reminded that my identity is in Christ.
Are you grieving today? Have you let yourself grieve? Jesus in you will comfort and reveal Himself in you in marvelous ways, if you will let Him walk you through your grief. "For when Christ who is our life shall appear, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." Colossians 3:4
Live Free In Christ,
When our daughter, Bekah, was born with Down syndrome, Ellen and I grieved for days. Why? Because we had lost a perfect child and there is no cure for people born with that extra chromosome added to the 21 pair.
Grieving is the deep feeling of loss. It can be the loss of a friendship, our health, a family relationship, someone we loved who died, a child's future, our marriage, a healthy child, all or most of our finances, virginity, the love of a parent, and more.
Everyone grieves, but we don't have to stay stuck there. Jesus said in our grief that He can meet us and comfort us like no one else can. He comforts us often by what He says to us and His presence in us as our Life.
A couple of days after our daughter, Bekah, with Down syndrome, was born, I was grieving deeply as I rocked her in my arms. I kept asking God "Why?" He gently spoke a verse of scripture to me that I had not memorized. "The LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" Exodus 4:11. The Lord was saying to me, "I am Sovereign and I am the One who made Bekah with Down syndrome." He was exhorting me to trust Him. That was the beginning of Jesus comforting me and working me through my grief. Later, He reminded me that Jesus is my Life, not a healthy child. That is when my grief was replaced with His comfort.
Another time, our family was at a lunch for our church small group. One of our boys accidentally kicked another of our sons in the eye when they were wrestling. I spoke with him rather sternly about how dangerous it was to kick someone in the eye. Later, when all of the families were ready to leave, this son was nowhere to be found. We were meeting in our church building and we searched everywhere. Finally, he came walking around the building because he had been hiding in the back. I grieved that he had chosen to respond like that. Yet, as we were leaving, I turned to Ellen and said, "I sure am glad we don't get our identity from our children." You see, in my grief for our son, I was reminded that my identity is in Christ.
Are you grieving today? Have you let yourself grieve? Jesus in you will comfort and reveal Himself in you in marvelous ways, if you will let Him walk you through your grief. "For when Christ who is our life shall appear, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." Colossians 3:4
Live Free In Christ,
Mark Maulding,
President and Founder
President and Founder
www.GraceLifeInternational.com
All Content Copyright © 2013 Mark Maulding
