A Very Present Help
2Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
At eleven years of age I lost my dad to suicide. I really loved my dad too. I struggled to understand what happened, or why it happened. It rocked my world in a major way that took me some time to recover from.
Right after his death I dealt with intense fear of loss for a long time after that. It was so bad, it often interfered with my mom being able to go out of the house. I would panic. I felt that if she left she might get killed. I was terrified of losing her too. It was a prison and a torment to me and the ones who loved me. It took a while to overcome it to a level of being able function more normally, but it wasn’t till I came to know Jesus that it was truly broken in my life.
Loss is painful no doubt. I have had my share of loss over the years, and as well in 2020 like many others. I presided over too many memorial services for the loved ones of friends, and even my own family. I’ve noticed that someone passing is never at a convenient time in our lives and seems to always stir questions of some kind, or other. I also took note that through all these losses that were so final and felt so deeply, one thing stayed consistent. By the grace of God and the friendship of the Holy Spirit I was keenly aware of the constant presence of God. I was also keenly aware of the love He was showering upon me, and the family during those difficult times. It was in such abundance I was able to offer continual encouragement to those around me while handling tough situations of my own. I wasn’t refusing to grieve properly or be in denial of the loss. I was able to recognize and properly participate in the process but noticed I had a supernatural grace upon me through it all.
When the Scripture says that in my weakness Jesus is made strong it is not speaking tongue in cheek. That statement is not a platitude.
2Corinthians 13:4 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.
I felt so strengthened by Him in the midst of my loss it seemed scandalous. His love is that way. It comes through the fog of our hardships and pain sometimes in the most scandalous of ways. Weeping may last for a night but joy comes in the morning.
An unexplainable joy in situations hard to understand or deal with is the beauty of relationship with Him that is real, raw and sometimes ugly on our part. He is okay with our honesty in the midst of such trials and He will wash us with His love so we can have joy and be comforted in the midst of pain and momentary confusion. Just be honest and open with Him and by all means ask Him for His help.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
He takes our ashes and gives us His beauty. Oh how He loves us! His love is not conditional, and my friend today He loves you just as much as He has any other day, and He always will love you. Be encouraged today no matter what you may be facing and know that you are greatly loved.
