"Hurting"

     Our typical after-school routine.  My 7 year old grandson sits down to eat his snack.  I walk over and play the messages on the answering machine.  "Keep Kevin Wolfgong in your prayers.  They've called the family in."  Those words hit hard.  A good and godly young preacher of the gospel was soon to lose his battle with cancer, leaving behind a toddler daughter and wife.  I walked over and sat down at the table attempting to "be strong."  Andrew asked about the message and I explained it to him.  A couple of quiet minutes passed . . . then softly a small voice says, "Grandma, it's okay if you cry."  My head dropped to the table as the tears let loose.  A little hand reached out and laid on my head.  What made this a so much deeper moment is that Andrew has been having a pretty rough time of it himself lately.  Yet, through his own heartaches he was able to see those of Grandma and reach out to share a moment of comfort.

     So many today are hurting deeply.  It may be the loss of a loved one or dear friend.  It may be the anniversary of the loss of a spouse.  Or it could be you are dealing with mother or father who is going through major health problems.  Possibly you are dealing with family issues or the illness of your child.  Brothers and sisters let us reach out to one another and say, "It's okay if you cry."  God has given us an awesome gift in giving us a church family to share our hurts.  Please don't ever feel that it is a sign of spiritual weakness to allow the hurt to show.  May we reach out to comfort one another through our own hurts and heartaches and in so doing grow more deeply in the love of Christ.

     The storms of life are constantly raging among those of the body of Christ.  The waves of questions and doubts are attempting to strand us on a spiritual desert island.  When Satan attempts to take your focus from God and shift it to the "Whys?" and "How can I's?", resist him.  God may never answer the whys this side of heaven, but he will see us through.  Last night I heard this song written by Amy Grant.  I love its message:

Lay down your burden, I will carry you, I will carry you my child, my child.

Lay down your burden, I will carry you, I will carry you my child, my child.

'Cause I can walk on water, calm a restless sea.

I've done a thousand things you've never done.

And I'm really watching while you struggle on your own.

Call my name, I'll come.

I gave vision to the blind, I can raise the dead,

I've seen those sleepless nights and count every tear you cry . . .

Lay down your burden, I will carry you, I will carry you my child, my child.

Lay down your burden, I will carry you, I will carry you my child, my child.

     God will carry us through the darkest hours of this life.  He will carry us home.  He does not expect us not to hurt, but rather to keep our focus on Him when we hurt.  Like a child in the comfort and safety of its fathers arms, so are we in the arms of Yahweh Shalom, the Lord, my Peace, receiving His comfort, protection, and healing of our broken hearts.

-jw

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