I was driving back to my office from a home visit about an hour ago. As I proceeded down the road I saw something flapping back and forth on the ground. Thinking it was probably a paper or some sort of litter stuck to the road I thought nothing of it until I got closer…
It was an undead squirrel. I was nearly simultaneously nauseated and in tears as my car passed over him still flapping, and twitching about clearly in horrible pain. I prayed for God to send a wheel quickly over him to end his, or her terribly violent suffering. I realize it’s just a squirrel, but oh my goodness I cannot get that image of his little body flapping about on the pavement out of my head. Oh, I pray he’s gone by now.
Okay, moving on…sorry.
I was in Wal-Mart looking at sympathy cards for someone who lossed three teeth to the dentist this morning, and something struck me. Besides the incredible heartlessness, and cheesiness of most of the cards (i.e. “Wishing you comfort and peace in this difficult time.” Or, “Warmest thoughts…” Or, “There’s another star in the sky tonight…” Or, “Memories last forever…” Or, “ Knowing your loved one will always be near…”) the absolute false comfort that these give astounds me. The last example in particular. If my mother or friend just died and someone gave me a card that read “Knowing your loved one will always be near…” would infuriate me. ”Near?! They’re gone you idiot! Thanks for the reminder that they’re NOT near!” Maybe it’s just me, but that would NOT be comforting.
Secondly, you can wish me your warmest thoughts, you can wish me peace, and comfort, and you can tell me that my memories will always be there etc., but you cannot offer me true comfort, true peace, and true hope without Christ. The loss of someone you love demands more than frail human attempts at comfort and peace. It asks for more than trite answers or contrived and empty words. Proverbs 21:34 speaks to this: “How then can you comfort me with empty words, since falsehood remains in your answers?”
The kind of peace, comfort, and hope one needs at such a time passes human understanding. It passes what is in our capability to give. It is supernatural; it is real; it is penetrating; it is lasting.
“In the multitude of my anxieties within me,Your comforts delight my soul.” Psalm 94:19
“…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.” Isaiah 26:3-4
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
“For He Himself is our peace…” Ephesians 2:14
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” I Thessalonians 4:13-18
