Martin Luther King Sr. is quoted as having said, years after losing two amazing sons and his talented wife to unjust and untimely deaths, "....Thank God for what's left. There's always enough left in life to make it worth living......"
With some caution, I would like to ask a few probing questions to consider for those of us who are facing life after losses.
What do you have left after your loss? (Think about it).
When this fog of mourning lifts, what will remain?
Do you still have some of your dreams? (Try dreaming again).
Do you still have God's gifts and your God-given abilities?
Will you have connections with legitimate acquaintances?
Will you have relationships with people who love you? (You can).
Do you have relationships with those who are overcoming their losses also?
Do you have any answers that people like yourself need? (You may).
Will you still have a purpose?
Will you still have a voice?
There was a man named Moses, whose life began to change – after 80 years of loss - when God asked him,
“What’s in your hand?”
What is in your hand?
What do you have left?
What remains?
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Find the answers to these questions and move forward slowly, while trusting God no matter what.
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It is people like you who are heroes!
Your story is not over and you will survive!
In conclusion, let me encourage you to pray like you have never prayed before.
While you may be angry at God for your losses, pray anyway. Tell Him how you feel, call on His name and bring all your concerns to Him. The first verse to the hymn – written by Joseph M. Scriven long ago - still hold true today.
“What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”
Finally, do not ever give up on people. While some may let you down, that does not mean everyone is to be avoided. We were made for fellowship and in so doing, someone may bring the encouragement you need and vice versa.
May God help you find true friends who can pray with you too.
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2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
Who comforts us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort those
who are in any trouble, with the comfort
with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
