There are many events in life that cause us to pray for a miracle. Many of those deal with loss of some sort. Some deal with the loss of a job, the loss of support for their family. Others deal with the loss of their health. Some with the loss of a loved one. As we get older, some deal with the loss of memory and more even with the loss of independence.
Loss has been a part of life since the beginning of time. Adam and Eve lost their privilege in the garden and their close relationship with Jesus. Moses lost his opportunity to live in the promised land. Samson lost his strength and sight. Job lost his livestock, servants, and children.
How do we cope with loss?
Loss can affect us emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Knowing things will be okay and that you will be okay does not make it less tolling. So how do we get through it? I feel like there are a lot of things that can come into play that can help.
Finding comfort in God’s Word is a great place to start. God cares so deeply for us. When we hurt, He hurts.
Reading through different verses of Scripture such as Matthew 5:4 and Psalms 147:3, we see that the Lord takes care of the broken and mournful.
Then the well known passage in Ecclesiastes 3:4 says, “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” We see here that there are different times in our lives. We have moments of grief, and moments of joy.
Psalms 30:5b, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” We have a promise that no matter how bad life gets at one point, that joy is just around the corner. Now how long it takes to get around that corner is different for every person and circumstance. The fact of it is coming though is enough to give us hope.
I believe a lot of people think that if they focus on themselves during these times that they are selfish. The reason I believe that is because I have thought it myself. After reading on the topic I have found that self care is necessary to heal. If people ask you to go eat or hang out, and you literally just feel like you can’t, then don’t. Stay home, clean, pray, read, paint, sing. Do something you enjoy. Sometimes it is just about focusing on something that tends to make you happy.
Recognize the moments where you need to focus on alone time, and when you need to be around people though. People can help bring healing. Talking with someone who has gone through something similar, spending time with loved ones, and just communicating in general helps.
You may wake up one morning and not want to get up, get dressed, and go about your day. You still do though. Make your bed, fix your hair, eat breakfast, go for a walk. Small accomplishments are important. They add up throughout the day, causing you to feel successful and productive. This is more of the physical side of self care.
Set a thought into motion that it is okay to feel what I am feeling. It’s okay to not be okay for a little while. I will heal, and be able to help others heal eventually. God is my comfort and healer. Accepting that it may hurt right now, but that it will ease, aides in the healing process.
Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Okay, so I have prayed for my miracle, and believed without a shadow of a doubt. I knew it was going to happen. Now I am experiencing loss anyways. Why?
God answers prayers in three ways.
Yes. God hears your prayer and responds actively. You prayed for God to heal your illness and the next time you go to the doctor you are perfectly healthy.
No. God hears your prayer and sees that it is not good for you or that something better is in store. You prayed that God would give you a job at this particular place. You don’t understand why you didn’t get it. But God sees and knows. He knew that you were going to get a job a couple of months later that paid better, was a better place to work, and that you never would have taken it if you had started at the other job. He may have said no to the one you were praying about, but He saw something greater in store.
Wait, then yes. God hears your prayers and sees that the time is not right. Maybe God is wanting to strengthen you, or teach you patience. If someone else is involved such as a spouse or friend, maybe they’re not ready yet and God is preparing them as well. You pray that you are able to move to a better place. But everything keeps popping up and you don’t see why. You’ve tried looking for a house for sale. Then it didn’t seem like the credit and down payment would be enough. So you start looking for somewhere to rent, but there is nowhere to rent right now. Then the credit and down payment doesn’t seem to be the problem, just every time something hits the market...it’s sold. After waiting for what seems like forever all of a sudden you find your dream house and sign the contract to purchase. Why did it take so long? Well God saw they were building it, and put it all into place where you would be prepared for this house. See, God knows.
We all pray for our miracle, have faith it is going to happen. Even though it may not happen, that does not take away from the faithfulness of God. We still trust Him, because we know He has the best in store for us. Though it may hard, and we don't understand, we have the power to get through it.
Whatever you're going through, you're gonna make it. Keep on living. Keep on praying. Keep on trusting.
One more verse before you go. Deuteronomy 31:6, "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
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A yes from God is a blessing, a no from God is a blessing too. God knows what is best for us. That is why I learned a long time ago to trust in the Lord with my whole heart.