God has said: "There is a time to be born and a time to die". It is to be expected that one will die in time, but it is especially hard when it is a young person. Can we even then say: "There is a time to die"? Yes, for it is God's will. He gives life and He takes life away, and according to His purposes. He has said: "...who are thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it: why hast Thou made me thus? Hath not the Potter power over the clay?". Can not God take one out of the world according to His plan, or take a soul unto Himself when He is ready?
It is always a hard time to bear the thought of losing a dear one in death, so we need to be familiar with death. It is a transition from this world to an eternal state, for man has been given an eternal soul. We always hope it is to eternal blessing and not a lost eternity, but we cannot really know their destiny for we do not know the mind and heart of each one.
Some dear ones have never been to a funeral or experienced the loss of a loved one, and it becomes a shock to them. It is one of the realities of life, so we ought to prepare for death by knowing our Creator.
Here is a paper written to one who lost a family member, and it can prove a help to others.
- 1 Watchman
[Some ministry to a new believer with little understanding of the Word of God who needed to find peace.]
Dear_________:
For some time I have thought about writing to you, but hesitated as I felt inadequate to say anything. That is often what happens with people in times of sorrow, but truly our thoughts and prayers are for you.
There are some things one might say in a natural sense, but what we need most of all at a time like this is to consider the love and mind of God. He has given us His precious Word for that, and therein are the eternal issues.
At such a time one feels many things all at once, but God says: "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psa.46:10). He is our Creator and He loves us, and He does all things well and according to His purposes. He never makes a mistake. There is "...a time to be born and a time to die" (Eccl.3:1-2). Job said of his many troubles and loss: "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord" (Job 1:21). God knows and understands our needs and our sorrow, and He cares, but His perfect plan must unfold.
Thank God the grieving will pass. Time will heal the broken heart, though one will always feel the loss. One might say: "It would not have happened if...", but all things are according to God's plan. He is never early or late. We need to see God in everything and say: "Thy will be done" (Matt.26: 42), as did the blessed Lord Jesus, when He suffered and died on the cross for our sins.
We need to know God's love and peace (see Phil.4:7; Prov.23:26). He will keep one in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him (Isa.26:3). How is that? Well, as we begin to see and think God's thoughts He makes us to "lie down in green pastures" (Psa.23; Phil.4:9). The way is open through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom.5:1-2). God says: "But now in Christ Jesus ye who once were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Eph.2:13). If one's hope and trust and fellowship is in Him, therein one will find peace.
Read God's Word and rest on His "exceeding great and precious promises", dear one, and be assured of His love (John 3:16). One day we will understand the mysteries more fully. Look up always! - [Robert DeWitt]
It is always a hard time to bear the thought of losing a dear one in death, so we need to be familiar with death. It is a transition from this world to an eternal state, for man has been given an eternal soul. We always hope it is to eternal blessing and not a lost eternity, but we cannot really know their destiny for we do not know the mind and heart of each one.
Some dear ones have never been to a funeral or experienced the loss of a loved one, and it becomes a shock to them. It is one of the realities of life, so we ought to prepare for death by knowing our Creator.
Here is a paper written to one who lost a family member, and it can prove a help to others.
- 1 Watchman
THOUGHTS EXPRESSED OVER GRIEF AND LOSS
OF A LOVED ONE
OF A LOVED ONE
[Some ministry to a new believer with little understanding of the Word of God who needed to find peace.]
Dear_________:
For some time I have thought about writing to you, but hesitated as I felt inadequate to say anything. That is often what happens with people in times of sorrow, but truly our thoughts and prayers are for you.
There are some things one might say in a natural sense, but what we need most of all at a time like this is to consider the love and mind of God. He has given us His precious Word for that, and therein are the eternal issues.
At such a time one feels many things all at once, but God says: "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psa.46:10). He is our Creator and He loves us, and He does all things well and according to His purposes. He never makes a mistake. There is "...a time to be born and a time to die" (Eccl.3:1-2). Job said of his many troubles and loss: "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord" (Job 1:21). God knows and understands our needs and our sorrow, and He cares, but His perfect plan must unfold.
Thank God the grieving will pass. Time will heal the broken heart, though one will always feel the loss. One might say: "It would not have happened if...", but all things are according to God's plan. He is never early or late. We need to see God in everything and say: "Thy will be done" (Matt.26: 42), as did the blessed Lord Jesus, when He suffered and died on the cross for our sins.
We need to know God's love and peace (see Phil.4:7; Prov.23:26). He will keep one in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him (Isa.26:3). How is that? Well, as we begin to see and think God's thoughts He makes us to "lie down in green pastures" (Psa.23; Phil.4:9). The way is open through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom.5:1-2). God says: "But now in Christ Jesus ye who once were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Eph.2:13). If one's hope and trust and fellowship is in Him, therein one will find peace.
Read God's Word and rest on His "exceeding great and precious promises", dear one, and be assured of His love (John 3:16). One day we will understand the mysteries more fully. Look up always! - [Robert DeWitt]
