Verses to share?

[Bridgit]

As some of you know, my oldest son (19), Joel, disappeared from early July. It has been five months now and I still don't know where he is.

I am reading my Bible a lot but was wondering if you could you share with me the verses you read when you hurt. Thanks.

 

[FlatpickingJD]

I didn't know and I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this.

My answer will be lame but have you been reading through the Psalms? Whenever I'm down that's where I turn. I don't know if they will help, but I do hope that these specific verses will be somehow meaningful to you:

Ps 119:28 My soul weeps because of grief; Stengthen me according to Your word.

Ps 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, That your word has revived me.

Ps 138:3 On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul.

Please read, meditate and pray the Psalms. My prayers are with you.

 

[alexier]

Yeah as Flat says, the Psalms are great.
The whole of Psalm 20 - its just so encouraging and full of hope and promise. Its amazing and when I feel really down its the first Psalm I look too.
I am so sorry to hear about this and I will pray for Joel, that he is safe in the Lords protection and that you will have peace of mind and great courage in this time of unknowing.
Many Blessings and prayers Lexie

 

[Bridgit]

Thank you so much for sharing. Yes, I have taken refuge in the Word and Psalms have a lot of verses that strenghtens me. I was afraid that Christmas would be hard without having any news from my son Joel, but, thanks to God, I do find solace in His Word. If you don't mind please keep praying. This is greatly helping me too.

 

[sirender]

Psalm 71:1-3

 

[SarahRM]

Psalm 71:1-3

I agree with sirender. I am sorry that you are going through this. I will pray for you

 

[sirender]

Isaiah 41:10

 

[Bridgit]

Thank you for sharing these verses.

I still have no news from my son Joel. Last Friday morning at around 3:30 am I woke up and started to think about Joel and tears came to my eyes. I miss him. I miss hearing his voice. In my sorrow I prayed and asked God to let me know that Joel is ok. Some time after I fell back asleep and I had a dream. In that dream I found myself in a parking lot. It was empty. Then an army jeep, without a top, drove by. I looked at the car and saw some men dressed in fatigues in it. As I looked at the driver, I noticed that he looked like Joel. The car slowed down as it passed me and I got closer to get a good look at the driver. It was Joel! I called him but he didn't seem to hear me and the jeep left the parking lot and disappeared in the traffic. Then I woke up from my dream.


I was so happy. God had answered my prayer and let me know that Joel is still alive. That he is fine.

I have hope that one day I'll see him face to face and will be able to hug him.

God is awesome!

Thank you friends for your encouraging prayers.

 

[Bridgit]

I would like to let you know that I have been informed last Monday that my dear son, Joel, is gone to be with the Lord. His body was found in a forest. The police is not sure if the wound was self inflicted or not. A memorial service was held yesterday.

I am devastated. Please keep me in your prayers. It is greatly needed.

Thank you!

 

[Lotuspetal_uk]

I would like to let you know that I have been informed last Monday that my dear son, Joel, is gone to be with the Lord. His body was found in a forest. The police is not sure if the wound was self inflicted or not. A memorial service was held yesterday.

I am devastated. Please keep me in your prayers. It is greatly needed.

Thank you!

I am so sorry to hear your loss. Keeping you lifted in prayers.

 

[rainy]

Bridget , am sorry for your loss. Will keep you and your family in prayers.

 

[40creek]

I would like to let you know that I have been informed last Monday that my dear son, Joel, is gone to be with the Lord. His body was found in a forest. The police is not sure if the wound was self inflicted or not. A memorial service was held yesterday.

I am devastated. Please keep me in your prayers. It is greatly needed.

Thank you!

I don't even know you and I have a massive lump in my throat right now. It would be better if I just said that I was sorry and I really am but, I have to remind you the life Paul lived. Homeless, hungry, shipwrecked, stoned, wipped and beeten, snake bit, shunned, imprisoned, and finally killed.
People wonder at these times if God really exists. They wonder what happened to all my prayers. Ask and ye shall recieve and all that.
Please Bridget remember this. The promise was made but not for this time. As promises were made to the patriarches and yet they died their reward is yet to come.
Your sons passing could go two ways. Let it solidify you in Jesus Christ. Your son is not dead. As king David said he would see his son again in heaven so I believe will you.

Now you mention that it is not known if the wound was self inflicted or not. That leads me to believe you wonder about it. Let me tell you this. If it was suicide do not fear. There is only one unpardonable sin. Luke12:10 expounded in Heb6:4-6. It does not say suicide is an unpardonable sin. I believe God can understand the tormented soul that does such an act. They are not in their right mind. God is not without a heart. Believe me. In most cases I believe a person who commits suicide is screaming in their very soul forgive me father even as they take their life.

However, I write that to give you that peace in case you feel he may have done it. I on the other hand do not believe it. Not at all. I know I don't know you or him but nobody hides their body in bushes to commit suicide. Most cases they will leave a note or tell someone to bare their soul. I think you can rule out the very thought in your mind.

I have been brutally honest but, as a stranger I cannot come and give you a hug. And that is what I would like to do. I just pray your faith stays strong. With Love your brother in Christ MIKE.

 

[FlatpickingJD]

Bridgit, I am so sorry for your loss. Your family is in my prayers.

 

[Bridgit]

I don't even know you and I have a massive lump in my throat right now. It would be better if I just said that I was sorry and I really am but, I have to remind you the life Paul lived. Homeless, hungry, shipwrecked, stoned, wipped and beeten, snake bit, shunned, imprisoned, and finally killed.
People wonder at these times if God really exists. They wonder what happened to all my prayers. Ask and ye shall recieve and all that.
Please Bridget remember this. The promise was made but not for this time. As promises were made to the patriarches and yet they died their reward is yet to come.
Your sons passing could go two ways. Let it solidify you in Jesus Christ. Your son is not dead. As king David said he would see his son again in heaven so I believe will you.

Now you mention that it is not known if the wound was self inflicted or not. That leads me to believe you wonder about it. Let me tell you this. If it was suicide do not fear. There is only one unpardonable sin. Luke12:10 expounded in Heb6:4-6. It does not say suicide is an unpardonable sin. I believe God can understand the tormented soul that does such an act. They are not in their right mind. God is not without a heart. Believe me. In most cases I believe a person who commits suicide is screaming in their very soul forgive me father even as they take their life.

However, I write that to give you that peace in case you feel he may have done it. I on the other hand do not believe it. Not at all. I know I don't know you or him but nobody hides their body in bushes to commit suicide. Most cases they will leave a note or tell someone to bare their soul. I think you can rule out the very thought in your mind.

I have been brutally honest but, as a stranger I cannot come and give you a hug. And that is what I would like to do. I just pray your faith stays strong. With Love your brother in Christ MIKE.

Thank you Mike for your kind message. Please continue on praying as I hurt so bad knowing that I will never see Joel again on this side of the world. I miss him soooooo much.

 

[Bridgit]

Bridgit, I am so sorry for your loss. Your family is in my prayers.

Thank you for your prayers. Right now they are much needed. It is comforting to know that we are kept in prayers. Sometimes I hurt so bad that I cannot even pray for myself.

 

[Bridgit]

[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]Dear friends, Saturday, June 11, 2011, would have been Joel's 20th birthday. The closer it gets to that date, the more I find myself crying, the less I can sleep, the more tormented I am.

I need your support right now and throughout this weekend. I hurt so much.

Please lift me up in your prayers daily, through the weekend. I need them.

Thank you.
[/FONT]

 

[Beth-Zur]

I'm sorry for the unspeakable grief you must be feeling...

You mention in post #15: "Sometimes I hurt so bad that I cannot even pray for myself." It reminded me of Romans 8:26-27:

26 Similarly, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we don't know how to pray the way we should. But the Spirit himself pleads on our behalf with groanings too deep for words; 27 and the one who searches hearts knows exactly what the Spirit is thinking, because his pleadings for God's people accord with God's will. (CJB)

May you be aware of the presence of the Comforter as you bring your grief to God.

Peace be to you and yours.

 

[Bridgit]

Thank you so much Beth-Zur! I needed to read this today.