A Prayer for the Suffering

I heard two hard stories yesterday.  This on a day when the City of Houston was mourning the most tragic loss it had experienced in its fire department – four firefighters lost and one more still in critical condition in the hospital.

One friend told me her high school friend was jumping on a trampoline with his kids when he fell on his head which paralyzed him from the neck down.  He’s our age.  Great shape, former Marine, just playing on a sunny afternoon with his daughter.  Just hours later, a dear friend of mine told me about her 16 year friend on the verge of losing her battle with cancer.  She fought until there was nothing left to fight.  Now she readies herself.  Again, a battle that should never be lost in one so young.

I do not know what they are going through.  I cannot understand what they are thinking.  I do not pretend to have the words.  But I was asked to pray.   And even asked to pray by one who isn’t sold on the whole faith proposition.

So, in lieu of having the right words for these monumental losses, for these unwarranted and unexplainable tragedies, can I share what I found in the Bible?  To use as I pray and to send to those facing this, for some, final battle:

Revelation 21:

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”  Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

John 14 (Jesus speaking):

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also….Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

I don’t know if you or someone dear to you is facing loss right now.  If so, can I tell you how sorry I am you are having to go through this season?  Death, divorce, illness, abandonment, abuse, poverty, or whatever shape or size it comes in.  I can not understand what you are going through, but I have a God who can.  A God who lost his very own son in the most cruel of ways.  He knows and will stand with you as you walk down this long road.  The always wise Ann Voskamp says, “It’s the quantum physics of God: one broken heart always breaks God’s in two.  We never cry alone.  And our crying God, He catches every tear in His bottle — God catches every falling tear because He’s keeping us from falling apart.”  You are not alone.  And if you need a physical person to stand with you in prayer, just send me a note and I will pray alongside you.