Corona Devo 2083

And just like that, he was gone.  

But, although some people die young and unexpectedly, others live long and full lives, and at eighty-five years old, this man had done that.

I didn't know him that well, but he and his wife (of sixty-two years) lived in a small community that I visit every month, and when there's only about fifty residents, it's easy to become friendly with those who allow you to.  

He did.

He and his wife were both cognizant, kind, fairly able, and they had amazing life experiences.  Just last month he was sharing stories about his career with us.  

And just like that, he was gone.  

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  ~Matthew 24:36  

Have we lost someone that we love?  And just like that, they were gone? 

Regardless of how much time we had with our loved one...it hurts.  And "hurt" doesn't demonstrate, define, or demand the depth of loss that is incurred with deaths that are close to our heart.

There are no words.

But there can be prayer.  

Do we need prayer today because we hurt for the loss of a loved one?  

I knelt down to talk with this new widow, (here is a title that no one desires to bear), and as I grasped her warm hands for prayer, she lowered her eyes, and so did I.  

Stop for a moment (if you need to), and lower your eyes.  Let God speak to our hearts about death and about life after it if we have received Him into our heart.  God sees us in our sorrow and He is with us as we walk through it.

The Lord is not saddened by the death of His children, and He tells us why:

  • There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: (2) a time to be born and a time to die...  ~Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
  • For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. (2) We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. (3) For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. (4) While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. (5) God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.  (6) So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. (7) For we live by believing and not by seeing. (8) Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. (9) So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. (10) For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.  ~2 Corinthians 5:1-10  

The Bible gives us hope for tomorrow, and that is what I prayed with her about.  Our eyes were closed, but I felt her body begin to quake in small sobs and then she whispered..."I haven't cried yet, until now."

Now was a good time.

There is a time for everything...a time to weep and a time to laugh...  ~Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4     

~~~

As I held my (elderly) friend's hand, God held her heart.  I prayed with her about the promises that our Lord has given us for when we leave this world and join Him for eternity, and she nodded silently.  The hope of Heaven provides strength to those of us who are still left with time to live.

  • I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. (4) He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”  ~Revelation 21:3-4  
  • “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’  ~Matthew 25:23

~~~

And just like that, he was gone.  

It's never easy or fair, or timely to lose a loved one. 
But it will happen. 
And prayer helps.  
And believing in the Truth that God tells us about what's next helps too.  

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  ~Psalm 34:18

~~~

I bring story books and poetry and whatever the Lord puts on my heart to share with residents when I visit my friends at the nursing home.  On this day, I packed a book about Heaven amongst the other stories.

A beautiful book with nice pictures and even nicer Scriptures on each page, I didn't know that one of their community members had passed, but just like that, he had.

And just like that, he was home, which is what I prayed with his wife about. 

  • “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. (2) My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (4) You know the way to the place where I am going.”  ~John 14:1-4  
  • But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (21)who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.  ~Philippians 3:20-21

Harriet, my (new) widow friend wasn't the only one that the Lord was ministering to today in Scripture, in prayer, in Spirit.  

Receive God's comfort, peace, and Truth over us today.  He is close.




Blessings, 

Sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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