Grief is hard. It’s devastating. It’s debilitating.
For those of you reading this that are grieving, I pray for you often. I love you and pray God’s encouragement into your heart.
All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God’s comfort. 2 Cor 1:3-7 (NLT)
While we all grieve differently, which is normal, some are grieving in a very grievous way like a parent that has lost their son or daughter. Pastor Levi Lusko writes in his book Through the Eyes of a Lion:
“When a woman’s husband dies, she is called a widow. If it’s the husband who survives, he becomes a widower. Children who lose their parents are called orphans. But what do you call a mom or a dad who has had to face the death of a child? There is no title for that. I suppose that is because there really are no words to describe such a thing. We were shattered. Devastated.” – Levi Lusko, Through the Eyes of a Lion, p37
My heart is a little heavier this week. My good friend and fellow Pastor Scott Cox and his wife Nancy lost their precious son Christian this week. He was 19. Please pray for them. If you’d like to support them with their unexpected financial burdens, please visit: https://www.youcaring.com/scott-and-nancy-cox-515623
While there isn’t a name for a parent who has lost a child (and I’d add a brother or sister losing their sibling), the Lord knows intimately the deep searing pain that simply does not go away. He alone can comfort.
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
1 Cor 12:26 (NLT)
Very good! No name for it for sure….maybe devastated ones…
Thank you for your blogs about grief. We have had seven deaths in a row in our family. The new year started out with a trip to Montana to bury my brother in law. We came back to Colorado for a day and were told my mom was in a coma so the next day we left for Idaho. We were by her bedside as she passed away three days later. I am grieving, yet my family is grieving also and I am trying to comfort them. Thank God for my church family who is helping me with the process of grieving.
Lisa,
I’m so sorry for the losses you and your family have had to endure. I too am grieving the unexpected loss of my young brother in-law. I can’t even imagine how difficult it must be for you to try and comfort your spouse while dealing with your own sorrow of losing your mother. May God strengthen you and give you all you need to get through this incredibly painful time. My prayers are with you & your family.
Sincerely,
Deb
(Fellow member of CCA)
Deborah,
Thank you for your kind words of sympathy. I am so sorry for the loss of your brother in law. It is very difficult to lose a loved one. My poor husband has lost his mom, three nieces, his uncle, his brother and now our mama. This all has happened within three years, with four family members passing away in 2015.
The good news is we had a new granddaughter be born last night, Feb. 6th. God is good.
May the Lord strengthen you and comfort you during this difficult time. I will pray for you and your family. Thank you so much for your prayers.
God bless you, Lisa
I lost my 18 year old son Aaron. He was funny and always messing around playing jokes on everyone. He was in an automobile accident,he lasted 9 days before he passed away. We prayed with him so much I thought he was going to live because u knew GOD answered prayers and so many prayed were heard but he still died. J Remember My Poo Astor told me that last night Aaron was alive was that I was praying for the wrong thing so I prayed for healing and he taught me that Aaron already had the ultimate healing that was being in the presence of the Lord. It took me along time to accept that because I loved my son so so much. And I thought it was so unfair because he was so young. He had a future but my gracious Lord showed me how merciful he is . He assured me Aaron is in his hands and I’ll be with the heavenly family one day. My prayers go out to all of you who have ha a loved one leave this earth they are with GOD what better place to be than with him. amen. ELSIE SANTA FE nm
Yes dear Elsie. The comfort of our Lord is so powerful and sweet. We will be with them again.