Brokenhearted

 “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17

I want to begin this post by acknowledging the passing of a very sweet lady, Brenda Tester. She was the mother of great friends of our family and a wonderful servant of Christ…Mrs. Brenda you will truly be missed!! While we celebrate your home-going, we grieve your presence here on this earth, rest in peace sweet friend!

In the last couple of days we’ve had two calls back to back to let us know that hospice has been called in for two family members. Loss is never easy, even when we know its coming, we are left with emotions to process through and the grief that fills our hearts.

Loss comes in many forms and isn’t always associated with death but it is always difficult. Loss drives us to the things that are most important to us, hopefully that is God, family and friends. However, if our foundation isn’t built on Christ alone, loss can have devastating results in our life. Loss shakes us to the core and from it flows tons of emotions…doubt, disappointment, grief, anger and many more. If we don’t deal with these emotions in a healthy way, they will over take us, prevent us from moving forward or derail us altogether.

While I was left processing the loss of Mrs. Brenda, burdened for her family, and the impending loss of two beloved family members…I just wept. I don’t understand loss, I don’t understand why God decides to take away people and things that mean so much to us. But I do know that “God IS before all things and in him ALL things hold together.” He is before the loss, He is before the anger, He is before the disappointment, He is before the grief and He is before the pain…and IN Him, He holds us and all the things in our world together. He is a masterful, creative God weaving one detail of our life to the next…wrapping loss with love and renewed intimacy with Him. All the while revealing his gentle, humble spirit to work deeply in us and through us.

Whatever loss you’ve experienced never forget that God is walking with you through it…He sees every tear and holds them all in His hands. He cares for you and He wants to heal your broken heart. Lean in to Him…push through your emotions and allow his spirit to fill the emptiness that is within you. When you’re weak, He is your strength…when you can’t…He can and He will!

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18