Without sharing details that aren't mine to share, suffice it to say that a dear friend has suffered a great tragedy. This is the first time that I can remember being so absolutely devastated for someone. I don't know what to say-which is a completely foreign feeling to me. I don't know what to do, which isn't. I have cried so much that my head is still hurting.
And this is only the beginning. If I feel this way, I know I have absolutely no comprehension of how my friend is suffering. And there is no end in sight.
But God is sovereign. He did not look away during this time. He has known about this since the beginning of time and He is not surprised by a single thing that occurred. I was sorely tempted to ask "Why?" but I realized that I don't want to know. There will be no making sense of this in this life.
I just keep praying that the Lord will let me be there for my friend. That He will keep meaningless things from coming out of my mouth, that I will be filled with compassion and tenderness. That I will be a blessing and not a stumbling block.
And I have to believe He will answer those prayers. That I can be His love, that He purposefully included me in this situation because He knew that He could fit me for the task. And I will be grateful for that. And I will pray for my friend without ceasing...
We had a family at our church suffer this same type of tragedy and it was heart wrenching. Today though, the Lord has heard their cries and blessed them abundantly. I pray the same for your friend.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, I've learned in my old age that it's ok to say nothing or precious little. A warm hug and a shoulder to cry on goes a lot further than words intended to comfort, that come out wrong, or are misinterpreted.
Sorry I was still logged in as my other user for the church blog!
ReplyDeleteYou are such a blessing to me & I am glad to call you FRIEND! God has placed you in this time & circumstances because of your gifts...I know it.
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