Trying Days

It's been an emotional couple of days.  Sunday morning on our way to church we got a phone call that a man at my Sister-in-law's church (Truth Baptist) had been shot and killed by police.  Their family was hurting very badly and we knew it would be difficult on their church family.  We prayed for them much of the day.

This morning we woke to another phone call telling us that a family at South Liberty Baptist Church had their house catch on fire this morning and that the father and son that we know died in the fire. The wife made it out but is in the hospital with some burns and in shock.

My heart has been aching all day. I know this family and they're sweet, sweet people.   The wife spent much time confiding in me after I spoke at one of their Ladies conferences.  My heart hurts so bad for her right now!

What does one do in times like this? Two tragedies in two days. Two families have lost their loved ones in tragic events. Two church families are mourning the loss of dear, sweet members.

Currently I know of a Pastor whose 1.5 year old daughter just suddenly died from croup, another family lost their 16 year old daughter in a four-wheeling accident, the Pastor of Heritage Baptist in Connecticut just learned last week that his wife has a brain tumor and it's stage 4 cancer, another Pastor in CT is very close to losing his young wife to a life threatening, incurable disease, and now these two tragedies.

We must look to the Lord.  We have to be in His word and remind ourselves of his love for us.  We must search the scriptures for that hope and that remembrance of His perfect plan.  The Bible says in Ecclesiastes that there is "a time to be born and a time to die" and there's also a "time to mourn".  Sadness and mourning are not omitted from the Christian life.  There's a time for mourning, but verse 11 says that "He hath made everything beautiful in his time..." and of course Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work together for good to them that love God.

Isn't there such comfort in the Word of God?  When Job was afflicted and mourning he recognized, "naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."  

And not to mention all the verses that offer the hope of Heaven.  And the gift of God's peace...a peace that passes our very own understanding in times like these.

Certainly I have not lost my husband, or a child, but I do know that no matter what is happening in or around our lives, we have to look to God's Word, and pray to our Heavenly Father who loves us.  For within the pages of the Bible is where we can find peace, and in His presence is where He has promised to hold us close to Himself and comfort the mourning heart.