Loss

“We are not alone. My prayers are perhaps a single note in a symphony, but a necessary note, for I believe in the communion of saints. We need each other. The prayers of one affect all. The obedience of one matters infinitely and forever.” ~Elisabeth Elliot ~

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” I Corinthians 12:12

Recently, we lost three friends from our ConnectGroup (Sunday School) class in less than a week. Each one had been burdened with chronic illness for quite some time. While we know they are with the Lord, we will certainly miss them. Our hearts go out to their families during this time, and we pray they will experience the peace and comfort that only comes from heaven above.

Loss is not something I relish writing about. It reminds me of my own losses—of the fact that life is sometimes cruel.

All around us there is loss. People are hurting. We’ve experienced it personally and we’ve had family and friends who have suffered unimaginable losses. We’ve seen incomprehensible losses in recent years and days. Our hearts have been broken by these losses. What do we do when we suffer, or see others suffering in this way?

There’s so much Good News amidst our losses. What a comfort it is to have the assurance we are never alone; that we can find God’s strength to carry on, even flourish in the midst of the hard things we go through; that we can go to the Father on behalf of each other.

I have heard others say that prayer is useless—that we Christian’s are only using it as a crutch. To them I would say, “If only you could know the peace that God will bring to your heart when you earnestly pray—when you can actually feel the prayers of others on your behalf.”

There’s a sweet communion that is experienced when we go to the Father in earnest prayer. I am 100% sure that He hears our prayers, and that He will answer them according to His will—according to his BIG plan. Our job is to trust His plan. To me, there’s not a more peaceful place to be.

The communion of the saints Elisabeth Elliot spoke of in the above quote is a wonderful provision from God. We support each other through prayer during those times of loss and uncertainties. Today, I’m very thankful for the unbreakable bond God provides for us with our Christian family.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, today I’m reminded that You are no different than You were yesterday; that Your promises are as true as they were yesterday, are today, and will be tomorrow. Please help all reading this take comfort in knowing that You are with them at all times. We take comfort in knowing that You are in all of our days. I’m times of loss, I pray that each of us would seek You above all else, for it is in Your care that we find the strength to go forward. You are our hope. You are our confidence. Be with those who mourn today. Strengthen them for their respective journey ahead. I pray that Your mighty hand will cover us today as we begin this day. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.