A Time for Everything
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 NIV
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
In the Myers-Briggs world, I am most strongly an INFP so I am a “feeler”. This explains why my heart has been grieving so much recently. It’s been aching for those who mourn. Many of my loved ones are facing some very difficult things and I am feeling it.
I would love to fix these painful situations all around me because it is uncomfortable to be in the presence of those who mourn but I need to allow everyone their space and time to process loss in their way. I can be with them by listening, praying, loving, and, sometimes, just sitting with them. It’s important for each of us to come to terms with the heartbreaking journey we each will travel in this life. Life isn’t easy and it isn’t fair. That has never been a promise for us to cling to.
Sometimes we will be on smaller mourning paths. Everyone encounters different griefs in life, but there are lesser losses. Of course, it all depends on one’s perspective and previous circumstances and experience. Loss is loss. These smaller side roads help us practice the processing of grief in preparation for those biggies. The unimaginables. Those struggles that we want to run away from because they are so large and life challenging and life changing.
I was about thirteen when I distinctly remember running to God when I was in pain.
And my pain involved loss experienced a number of years before. I have been running to Him ever since for His peace, perspective, His healing, and His joy. I am not always patient in affliction and I don’t always automatically look to God first but, eventually, I do get there. He consistently delivers His hope to my broken heart.
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12: 10-13 NIV
Our world, no matter how comfortable it can be, is full of a lot of suffering. But moving my focus from me to God and what He has done for me and continues to do for me in the midst of my struggles gives me hope. It isn’t that there isn’t a time to mourn because there is. But how I process my loss is incredibly important.
I have been through a few things in my life but there are other things I have not faced. I can’t always relate in a comparable way. But as I watch and stand alongside, I do feel. And feeling leads me to pray. I pray for God to be able to reach through the darkness and share His peace, love, and perspective with those who are mourning today.
On the Way,
Liz
prayerpointsbyliz 