02/20/2024
Have you prayed for someone who is in mourning? Have you lifted them up before the throne of God and asked Him to comfort them, and mend their broken hearts? Let’s talk about this kind of prayer today by using something which occurred in my life several years ago, and occurs somewhere around the world each and every day.
““When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you.””
John 16:21-22 CSB
It was a Friday morning and I was running ahead of schedule in my drive to work, so I decided to stop by Bruegger’s Bagels and treat myself to a couple of toasted bagels for breakfast. When I walked in, there was a mother and her four children in line before me. The kids looked to be middle and high school age, but one of them was a young man of approximately 14, and he caught my attention. I watched as he interacted with the rest of the family with mostly boyish actions, mixed with an occasional manly mannerism, and my mind wandered to something that had happened the day before.
Had you been watching the morning news before leaving home that day, then you would have been made aware of another 14 year old boy who was killed on a local Interstate by a hit and run driver. The boy had been changing a flat tire on his mother’s car when another automobile swerved and sideswiped their vehicle… killing him. I found out about this tragedy just minutes after it happened when my boss came into my office, collapsed into one of my chairs, and solemnly asked me to pray for the young man and his family. “The entire family is comprised of strong believers” he said, “They are devout Catholics.”
I have had many people come to my office seeking prayer, most denominations, races, and persuasions, but this was the first time my boss had asked me to place a request before the throne for him. I could tell from his expression that this particular accident had struck close to home and as his arms hung limp over the arm rests, he told me that this boy was one of the young men his eldest son had coached in sports. His son was in pain, the family of the stricken boy was in pain, my boss was in pain, the community as a whole was mourning, and I could feel the welling of hurt from deep within myself.
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4 KJV
I prayed throughout that day and night for the children; the child who was killed, the children of the family overcome by loss, and all of the other children of God who were being immersed in grief as a result of this incident. After all, every one of us is a child of God.
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:26 KJV
“And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty”
2 Corinthians 6:18 KJV
As a father, I have always tried to protect my children and grandchildren from harm, but occasionally harm can’t be avoided and at such moment I switch from my role as the protector to one of savior, comforter, or healer. Isn’t this what God does for us as well? In an instant He assumes a role much different than we had experienced with Him a mere breath before… just a blink into timelessness earlier.
So I prayed with my boss, and I thanked God for the faith of this family; if not for that then whose arms would they sob and find peace in? Through their efforts they had raised a son who now rested in the Lord, and they would have to wait in hope of their coming reunion.
I prayed for the comfort that only God could bring to their souls; souls that had most certainly been ripped asunder, just as the temple veil was ripped when God’s own Son met death.
“And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
I prayed that He would heal the spirit of this family that would have to learn to live each day without the boyish actions and occasional manly mannerisms they had come to love so much.
And… I prayed for all God’s children who surrounded them. I prayed that they would reinforce this family’s faith and salvation, provide them with care, give them a shoulder to cry on, and pour out their love that like a salve would heal the crippled spirit of this family who was missing one of its limbs.
In moments, blinks, and breaths, when the world changes for us in such drastic proportion, we must pray. We must pray for the children that God loves so completely; the children that God has chosen to share with us, and who make this world bearable for us.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 KJV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your children, and for the love you have for them. Thank you for the mercy, grace, and kindness that you shower over them each day, and for the promise of eternity with you when they believe in you, and your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you for allowing me to be counted as one of these children, and to believe in you with them to be my Heavenly Father, friend, and God, loving you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Thank you for your Holy Spirit who helps me in my prayers for those who are mourning the earthly loss of their loved ones today, because I know that each prayer offered up in love brings comfort, and blesses those whose hearts are breaking in their present loss.
You are a mighty and good Lord, and your softest whisper gives us peace and joy, even in our times of greatest sorrow. Your feelings for us are deep, and you have loved us in spite of our imperfections. You have loved us while we were yet sinners, and sent your only begotten Son to redeem us through His suffering, and with His life, death, and resurrection. His blood washes us clean, and He perfects us as He is perfect, so that when we stand before you in judgement you don’t see who we are, but only the face of your son Jesus... and thus we are pronounced acceptable. This is the promise we have, and the promise that all those we are mourning today have. In this way you have shown them mercy, and in your grace and goodness for them we too are blessed by this promise of hope. We praise you now in life, and look to that time when we will stand before your mercy seat with our loved ones, and say Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God, who was, and is, and is to come. Our voices will rise up with all of the heavenly host, and be pleasing unto you. That day we will be filled with our greatest peace and happiness as we stand in your presence with all those who have gone before us, and praise you, and worship you, forevermore. We will then shout out Hallelujah, and Amen, in the fullness of our joy, as we walk eternity with you!!
Rich Forbes