A friend died unexpectedly, leaving behind his wife and several children. I talked with his widow (also a dear friend) just a few days after his death. She was heartbroken, but also amazed that God had already used her husband’s death to inspire two individuals to receive salvation in Jesus. She then explained that she had gathered her children together and said something like this: “It’s okay to be angry and to express your emotions to God, but please don’t let this affect your faith in Him. How tragic would it be if you turned away from God even as these people turned to Him?”
Although she was in grief and pain, she was clinging to God and His everlasting love.
Jeremiah and the people of Judah also knew pain and heartache. They had come under the oppression of Babylonia and were torn away from their homeland. Defeat and destruction had led to grief and hopelessness. But God gave the prophet some words of hope: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself” (Jeremiah 31:3). He went on to explain that one day He would rebuild the nation, gardens would again flourish in the land, and happiness and dancing would once again be enjoyed by the people (Jeremiah 31:4-7). In essence he was saying, “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5).
My friend’s wife could express wise words of hope to her children because she knew she could trust in the love and provision of God. His “good gifts” would remain (Jeremiah 31:14). And even though she was experiencing fear and the sting of grief, she could rest in the arms of the One who said to His people, “I will turn their mourning into joy” (Jeremiah 31:13). His love is everlasting.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 20:13-38
More:
Read Psalm 23:1-6 and consider the “unfailing love” God has for you.
Next:
Are you facing a situation that has led to a crisis of belief? If not now, when you do face one, how can you remind yourself of God’s everlasting love and goodness?
vegilkerson on November 8, 2016 at 4:36 am
I had a medical test yesterday. The thought of that gave me chills; but I knew I had to get through it. It was the kind of test where they go down your throat into your esophagus to look at an area in my heart. I was kind of scared but it all went well. I don’t know the results yet but I am sure they will be forthcoming.
Tom Felten on November 8, 2016 at 9:54 am
Praying for you, vegilkerson. May the love of God fill you and may His peace be palpable!
Gary Shultz on November 8, 2016 at 6:09 am
Tom, as your young friend we don’t often get to chose many things in life. People have a difficult time with scorching events that take or crush life, health, and finances. As you, I like what this mother said, wisdom through tears, “It’s okay to be angry and to express your emotions to God, but please don’t let this affect your faith in Him.” It’s like forgive and forget, we don’t forget, but we can still forgive. We certainly do not need to forgive God, through evil, choice, and wills of men come these results, all good things come from God. This mother practiced what she preached, the short game really hurt, but soon the long game came into view. That is a strong faith that sees God through this, another kind of “tuff” love, a persevering faith, a faith that endures. It is a great quest to grow faith of this resolve, and it is a great God who will reward that kind of faith. We are human and God will understand the wreckage life brings, but when we stand empty, as Job, to count God faithful has come from a life that has reflected that quality, a life deeply invested in knowing God. Thanks Tom
Tom Felten on November 8, 2016 at 9:58 am
Good words, Gary. How closely we’ve been drawing to Jesus and how much we’ve invested in our relationship with Him makes all the difference when the cold winds blow.
godlove on November 8, 2016 at 8:01 am
I believe that times of great grief rank amongst the most sensitive periods of our walk in the faith. Such times can be make or break time, in that either they pull us closer to God (as the mother did) and we look up to Him for comfort and strength to move on; or we allow the grief and emotions to affect our faith in Him negatively. As crushing as grief can be, we can only rely on God’s grace to help us get through the pain and always remember that God’s love never fails. Thank you, Tom. Blessings to you and to everyone.
Tom Felten on November 8, 2016 at 9:59 am
So true, godlove. Where would we be without God’s grace?
sandy229 on November 8, 2016 at 11:30 am
Yes, Tom, grace that is greater than all our sin.
sandy229 on November 8, 2016 at 11:29 am
Yes, that’s so true godlove, God allows us to go through those times so we can comfort others when they go through it, but if we get upset and have a pity party, then we only have grief.
Monica Brands on November 8, 2016 at 1:29 pm
Thanks Sandy – it can be easy to be only overwhelmed and trapped in our grief. I’m grateful that we have a Savior who both understands and mourns for our suffering (Rom. 8:26) as well as carries us through it into God’s healing.
sim jing ying on November 8, 2016 at 10:15 am
I never had a situation that led me to a crisis of belief. I can remind myself that Jesus Christ always walks with us with everlasting love and goodness.
Tom Felten on November 8, 2016 at 3:16 pm
It’s so good to remember and remind ourselves of God’s character, sim jing ying. Thanks for sharing!
youssef1777 on November 8, 2016 at 10:18 am
I WILL WALK WITH FAITH . I TRUST IN GOD WILL HELP. HELP PEOPLE GOD WILL BLESS YOU IN DIFFICULT TIME .
youssef1777 on November 8, 2016 at 10:22 am
LOVE GOD WAIT FOR HIS PROMISE .
youssef1777 on November 8, 2016 at 10:44 am
PRAISE THE LORD ALL TIME IN GOOD OR BAD TIME . WILL GIVE YOU PEACE IN YOUR HEART .
youssef1777 on November 8, 2016 at 10:49 am
GOD BLESS THE PERSON WHO WORK .
youssef1777 on November 8, 2016 at 10:57 am
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WILL CARRY YOU WHEN YOU ARE SAD . AND CHANGE THE MATTER FOR BETTER . TRUST IN HIM .
youssef1777 on November 8, 2016 at 11:10 am
IT IS TRUE THAT GOD LOVE US . PRAISE HIS NAME . AND THANK YOU LORD FOR CARY FOR ME .
Tom Felten on November 8, 2016 at 3:23 pm
youseef1777, one of your comments truly stood out to me—to paraphrase, you said that we should praise God at all times and that as we do, peace will be found in Him even amidst the pain of life. This reminds me of what the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:4-7: “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
sandy229 on November 8, 2016 at 11:43 am
One of the greatest heartaches of any believing parent occurs when one of their children has rebelled against the ways of the Lord. God’s Word offers comfort and hope in this situation. He understands. Much of the OT is the story of God’s children straying. He knows our heartaches. And He promises to bring our children back!! He promises that ultimately they will come back to the ways they were taught as children (Proverbs 22:6), that peace will be their portion as they encounter Him (Isaiah 54:13), and that He will fight for us to see salvation come to them (Jeremiah 49:25). Jeremiah 31:17. I know this is true as I patiently wait for my oldest son to return to Him…..I know that GAgirl is also waiting for her prodigal. God gives us the peace and assurance to know that some day, this will happen. So we claim this promise knowing it will happen.
Monica Brands on November 8, 2016 at 1:20 pm
Thanks, Sandy for the reminder. We can take indeed comfort in knowing that those we love are in the loving care of God, who can draw anyone back to himself, though it might not happen with the timing we would like. Grateful for His patient goodness and that He can heal hearts in a way we cannot.
Mike Wittmer on November 8, 2016 at 5:10 pm
Amen, Tom! There is something worse than physical death, and that is the spiritual death of turning away from God. Grateful is too weak of a word for Jesus who defeated both kinds of death!
minkjh on November 8, 2016 at 6:32 pm
What a remarkable account of faith and trust here, Tom. Even though there may have been unanswered questions revolving around why did God allow this to happen, your friend understood that God is and always will be our only comfort in life and in death. About 30 years ago an extended family in our congregation suffered sudden and tragic loss where a brother, his wife, and one of their children were victims in an aircraft accident after attending church earlier that day. Unfortunately, this family chose a different course, instead alienating themselves from not only the church, but God as well. This went on for many years and it’s only been within the past five years that they have returned to worship once again.