Listen:
Please choose one of the following scriptures for Lectio Divina:
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18 NRSV)
“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34 He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus began to weep.” ( John 11:33-35 NRSV)
Reflect:
It was an early Monday morning around 5am when I heard the phone ring. I missed the call. A text message was already there saying simply, “Mom died” which hit me like a hammer right in my heart and changed my life forever.
Loss and grief were no strangers to me since we lost our dad when I was just 3 years old. Death, divorce and moving they say, are among the hardest things we face as humans. Now, finding myself 10,000 miles from home and losing her brought such deep sorrow that for the next two years it seemed my heart would never heal or feel whole again.
But it has, well almost, and maybe never completely this side of heaven, but over time the pain eased by turning my eyes to Him, Jesus, who my help came from (Psalm 121). Knowing Jesus wept as we read in John 11 should remind us that grieving is a process, one that we can unashamedly feel and go through, unapologetically.
Psalm 34 is a promise which reminds us that when we face the death of a loved one, or a global pandemic such as Covid-19 or losing a relationship, a home, anything we’ve loved and lost, that God is close, and wants to heal you.
He knows your hurts and He is deeply moved by the suffering and pain you are facing. He is full of compassion and He healed my one broken heart.
Give him your heart today and let Holy Spirit breathe new life into those hard and hurting places.
Prayer of Response:
Jesus when you wept, you showed us that you were fully man whilst being fully God, we know that because you lived fully as a man, even as You bled and died on the cross because of Your great love for us. We thank You that You hold us close during the hard seasons of loss and grief and that You walk right into our stories and bring us hope and comfort. We thank You Holy Spirit that You pray for us when our Spirits are crushed. We love You Jesus, help us also to show compassion and kindness as the world faces this pandemic and great loss. Remind us that you make everything beautiful in Your time. Amen.
—Submitted by Samantha Muller
Single mom living in Geneva, Switzerland with my 21 year old university going daughter and about a 20 minute train ride to my 25 year old son, making me a very young half empty nester. A lover of Jesus with a desire to allow His will to forever be done in my life and to live fully on purpose for Him pointing others to His saving grace.
Leave a Reply