Losing a loved one is one of life’s deepest sorrows, and the grief can feel overwhelming. But in the midst of loss, God’s Word offers comfort that is eternal and peace that passes understanding. Whether you’re a daughter mourning someone dear or a mother walking through the unthinkable loss of a child, the Lord is near to you. He sees, He knows, and He comforts.
When God made Himself known to a newly freed, half-terrified nation in the wilderness, He did not begin with thunder—though thunder was His to command. He did not speak first of judgment—though He had every right to do so. The mountain still smoked from His power, but He did not lead with it. Instead, most interestingly, He began with mercy. It was an unexpected opening.
It was 2 a.m. on June 17th when the phone rang—the kind of call you never want to get. I awoke from a hard sleep and answered groggily, “Hellllloooo?” A loud wailing came across the line, followed by a voice crying, “She’s gone!” Moments later, after shaking off the fog of sleep, I realized the voice belonged to my daughter’s soon-to-be fiancé.
I would suppose that most married couples, like me, are aware that one day either the husband or the wife will become a widow or widower. During our 57 years of marriage, my wife and I never really discussed the emotions that would come with the passing of one of us.
