When I was seven years old my grandmother passed away in her late sixties after a short battle with cancer. I did not attend the funeral, but I can remember how sad my mother was that day and tears she cried so many years ago. But God meets us in our sorrow.
Death and separation were not God’s plan but resulted when Adam and Eve fell into sin. The Apostle Paul talks about sin and death. Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. [1]
The result of sin was death for my grandmother, but because she knew Jesus as her Lord and Savior, she is in heaven. This gives us comfort as we grieve over the loss of a loved one. The Lord gave my family great comfort while we grieved over our loss. God’s Word gives us heavenly hope for those who have faith in Jesus as their Savior. Our loved ones may die, but for believers, we will meet them again.
God Met Jacob in His Sorrow
Jacob is an old man and as he is about to bless his two grandsons, he begins to reflect on the past. He mulls over the hardships but also the blessings of the Lord. Genesis 48:7 “Long ago, as I was returning from Paddan-aram, Rachel died in the land of Canaan. We were still on the way, some distance from Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). So with great sorrow I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath.” [2]
Many years later, Jacob still felt the emotion of the loss of his wife Rachel. The Lord continued to be with Jacob and bless him and his family even in the middle of sorrow. Life would go on as they continued their journey, but it would not be the same without his wife. The loss of loved ones is a painful experience that only the Lord can heal.
The Lord comforts us in our sorrow.
One of God’s provisions in the sufferings of this fallen world is that we experience personal, intervening comfort from God through the form of others, His Word and the Holy Spirit. The Lord tells us we can comfort others as we have been comforted.
2 Corinthians 1:3“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.[3]
“We don’t provide comfort by telling others that things aren’t as bad as they seem. Comfort happens when someone comes alongside and gives you strength.”[4]
Matthew 5:4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. [5] To hear how God meets us in our sorrow, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/faith-makes-a-difference-jacob
[1-3,5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[4] https://fullcountministries.com/articles/gods-divine-sorrow