A Time to Mourn

Hello Friends,

This past week, from Saturday until today, has been a rollercoaster ride of emotion. On two occasions our church family has received sad news as two saints in our church have been called home by God. Genevieve Brower (March 5th) and Verle Pomeroy (March 9th) turned in this earthly life, for an eternal home made by the hands of our Creator. Both have been pillars of faith and strength in our church for many years. They lived long lives and their wisdom was often sought and their presence desired when we would gather together. They will surely be missed, as they were loved and we felt the love the emmanated from their souls.

Both Genevieve and Verle were simply faithful. This brings joy in times like these, as we are confident of the fact that they are "dwelling in the house of the Lord, forever." I'm sure the Lord took one look at both of them and said, "Well done good and faithful servant. Well done!" We can take solace and comfort in knowing that Genevieve and Verle are experiencing the fulfillment of the promises they clinged to in this life. Their bodies are restored and their spirits renewed. We find joy in knowing they are with the Lord.

Yet, at the same time, we grieve. We are saddened by their absence. We mourn our human loss. We are brought to tears at the mention of their name or the sharing of a memory or when we hear a song that reminds us of them. We expect to see them in the places and situations they frequented. When they don't arrive, we are saddened. We have to learn how to go on living in this life without them.

As Christian people we live in the tension between joy and sorrow, strength and weakness, and restoration and brokenness. We come to God in these moments, and we hold on to the promises He has given. How do we handle this tension? Do we focus only on the joy because we believe that a good Christian would respond that way? Do we allow ourselves to slide deep into despair, forgetting to turn our eyes toward eternity? How do we grieve as Christian people?

Grieving like a Christian does not mean we do not grieve. It means we grieve without despair. We crawl into our Father's lap and lay our tear-stained cheeks on His shoulder, and trust that what He ordains is always right, will always work out well in the end, and that all our losses will one day be restored to us. It is running to Him and asking, "Tell me the story of what You have done and what You will do to destroy this enemy." It is going to Him and asking for the strength and comfort we need, to face the new reality of our temporary, mortal-lives-- a reality without someone we have grown to love, without someone we are used to having as a part of our lives and perhaps mistakenly assumed would always be there. It is knowing that although there is loss, all is not lost.

God does not tell us we will not have sorrows. He tells us that He will be our comfort in sorrow. He does not tell us we will not have tears. He tells us He will be there with us to wipe our tears away. He does not tell us there will not be times to mourn. He tells us that on the other side of that mourning is the promise of joy indescribable. (www.dory.typepad.com)

As we walk this path of sorrow together, may we also experience the joy that comes with having been loved by and being able to love Genevieve and Verle. May we experience the restoration of our souls as God strengthens us and reawakens us to His Spirit which embraces us. Yes, this is a time to mourn, but thanks be to God that on the other side of that mourning is the promise of an indescribable joy and a peace that passes all understanding.

Comforting, holy, God, I place myself in Your hands...I put myself in Your lap, and I ask that You hold me and those dear to me close to Your heart as we mourn. Turn my mourning into joy as I remember the ones I love who have gone home to be with You. Walk with me in the tension of these moments and the contemplations of the mysteries of life and death. Remind me that You are my God and I can find refuge in You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.