Are you Hurting There is the God of Comfort

I remember distinctly attending a funeral at the age of five. I recall coming back disturbed, perplexed and bewildered. I asked a lot of questions to my mother like – why did they shut up the casket? Why was everyone crying? How would the person breathe? How would the person come out later? These questions were to plague me for the next few years. I ended up avoiding funerals and cemeteries as I dreaded them.

My father was the pastor of a church and hence had to conduct funerals once in a while. Somehow invariably I consciously avoided them because I was never at ease since the first funeral I attended. When I lost my dad I was in a quandary. Here was one funeral I could not avoid. As his demise was sudden I was shocked. Being the eldest son in my family I decided to remain strong for my family’s sake.

I was seventeen, very very disturbed, but choose to remain stoic. As I stood near my dad’s casket there was no tears in my eyes. I saw all my loved ones crying bitterly. I was numb but yet had a pang of pain in my heart. I wanted all this to get over and be all by myself. I went on to do my duties of taking care of my mother, my sister and my higher studies. Three years later, I barely graduated from college when my mother too passed away. This was something that really jolted me. I felt the world around me crumbling.

I was twenty with an eighteen year old sister. I almost lost faith in God. It is in that valley of grief that God comforted me supernaturally through a condolence card. Though I had received many many cards at that point nothing consoled me. I received a card from a perfect stranger with a verse from the Bible – “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing and not one falls to the ground without your father’s knowledge. Even the very hairs of your head are numbered,” (Matt. 10:29–30).

I knew without a shadow of doubt that this was God speaking, as I got this particular card at a time I needed the most. Things have never been the same since. I realize the will of God for my life. Today, you may be in a situation where you are hurting deeply, having lost a loved one. I know that nothing or no one can console you. The loved one you lost is irreplaceable, but let me tell you from experience that there is the “God of Comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3) who is willing to stand by your side.

His name is Lord Jesus. He is willing to weep with you and is moved with compassion every time we hurt (John 11:35, Luke 7:13). He knows what it is to grieve over a loved one. While on earth He grieved over His cousin and forerunner John the Baptist, (Mt.14:12–13). God tasted death that He may deliver us from the fear and bondage of death (Heb.2:15). He destroyed the sting of death (1 Corinth. 15:55–56) and death itself which was our last enemy (1 Cor.15:26). Today, He reigns supreme and has the keys of death and hell (Rev. 1:18).

He promised all who believe and trust in Him will never die (it will only be like a sleep). He promised to raise them again (Jn.11:25). Furthermore, if you know of someone who has lost a loved one, then you have a Christian mandate to fulfill. 2 Corinthians 1:4 reminds us that we are to comfort others with the comfort we have received. You can comfort them by reading the above scripture verses and other encouraging passages from the Scriptures. You could probably send a card and minister to them. You could also just be around them so that they know that someone cares. All we need is to be sensitive. For our Lord commanded, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn.13:34–35 NIV).