Understanding

A young couple loses their 13 month old son to bacterial meningitis with no symptoms to let them know something might be wrong...he just never woke up from his nap. A mother and father held the memorial service for their 30 year old daughter who took her own life as a result of having to live with the devastating effects of Bipolar disease. The medications she had access to only brought worsened side effects and symptoms to make life more unbearable. A young, unemployed husband learns that his beautiful young bride is diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. As his head swirls with fear and shock, he realizes that on top of having to find a job, their life will never look like they thought it would...and that after all the surgery and chemo, he could still lose her.

These are the three stories that have weighed heavily on my heart over the last three weeks. The first two are neighbors of mine in my former neighborhood, and the young husband is my brother. My sister in law is now battling Stage 3 breast cancer. I’m not sitting here saying, “God, where are you in all of this?” But I can tell you that the people in these scenarios are, even if they know God. We always question. And it’s okay to question...He can take it. He understands. He’s been there.

There is no greater injustice in the world than a parent having to bury their child. And now that I’m a parent, I can get in touch with the rage and excruciating anguish that would pump through my veins at the loss of my Lucy Joy...and it terrifies me. I’ve experienced loss before. Agonizing loss. My father died when he was only 44. I was 23 years old. One day he was there, one day he was gone. It was so final. I wasn’t really walking with the Lord at that time but I knew there was no way I’d get through it without Him. What I didn’t realize was how much He understood my pain. I’d always heard about “God giving His only Son...” and took that verse (John 3:16) for granted. I treated it like a story, not HISTORY. But it is. It’s real.

So many times we isolate ourselves in our circumstances because we feel we are the only ones who understand our own pain. If we decide to let someone in or seek out help, we immediately want to find someone who has been through the same thing so that we KNOW they understand how we feel. And in many cases, support groups are wonderful and necessary. But to limit our resources to that can really handicap our healing process.

Are you a husband or wife whose spouse has left you for another? Jesus knows rejection and abandonment. Are you facing the loss of everything you own, including your home? Jesus knows about having to give up his place with no choice. Are you a single mom wondering how you’re going to make ends meet? Jesus understands being overworked, out of time and limited resources. Are you a victim of rape or incest? Jesus knows humiliation and torture. Are you a homosexual who feels alienated and hated? Jesus knows what it’s like to be mocked and hated. Yet, he experienced none of these examples I just mentioned.

What we need to remember is that as humans, we all experience these kinds of emotions at any given time and that even though someone else may not have been through the exact experience you have, if God has put them in your life for a “time such as this,” take a second look at the blessing He might be sending you. Understand He knows our hearts and needs better than we know ourselves. Know that He can be trusted, and He is delighted when we trust Him. In fact, it’s one of His greatest joys.

Wherever this message finds you, I pray for the right people to cross your path to minister to you, and I pray for you to recognize the blessing of the unlimited resources, understanding and care of God in your life. Whether you go to church or not, it’s there. He’s loving you...look for it.