“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalm 34:18 NLT)
In times like these, we who are in the land of the living, ought to be included in the number described by the saying, “Somebody prayed for me.” In times like these, pray! Pray for others!
For all those who have lost loved ones, let us pray for their comfort today. Perhaps you know from experience about grief and how those left behind must look to the Lord for strength, and eventual peace. While the faith of believers regarding the destiny for their saved, lost loved ones does not dwindle, they still face the momentary darkness, the missed times brought about by memories, and the time where they must confront the major admonition that “Everything will be all right.” So, in times like these, pray!
This has been a tough season as the time to live has been replaced by the unavoidable time to die, all too often and too soon in our own minds. But also keep in mind, God is an on-time God and He knows what’s best. Personally, if I just limit the time period to the last three weeks, I have had phone calls about persons in almost every imaginable generational group labeled by social scientist today, and all the calls were about someone who has gone home to be with the Lord. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord! Praise God! Yet, please note that sympathy and empathy are not enough. What do I suggest? In times like these, pray!
The loss of a person of any age is difficult, regardless of the form that the culprit called death shows up. So, as I said in the opening sentence, let us pray. Pray for the family and pray for the friends of those who you know, persons who are going through the process of grief. Take your mind off yourself and pray for others whose bio made the obituary pages of local newspapers recently, even if you never knew them. Somebody needs you to call on heaven today, petitioning for God’s comfort for others. In times like these, pray.
Include in your prayers, an insertion of words that ask the Holy Spirit to bring to the minds of those in a period of grief, including you and me, the remembrance of God’s presence and God’s power, and God’s promise of an eternal home in glory for believers. Yes, I agree! To God be the glory! If no words from the scriptures come to mind, I have provided two. One in the opening verse and one in the closing verse this morning. But you can find more.
Lastly, if you are one who has recently lost a loved one, know that I am one of the “somebodies” praying for you in a mighty way this morning. Keep trusting God and keep turning to His word. And again, I say, “In times like these, pray!” Be blessed!
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be.” (John 14:1-3 New American Standard Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King