S P I R I T U A L   P O W E R P O I N T S

Storms of Life

Grief Before Dying

    As we pray over loved ones suffering from terminal diseases, as we plead to our Lord on behalf of those too weak to even pray, as we cry out to our God to be glorified through the healing of those for whom we care so much, we must remember one thing: God’s aim is glorification, and He alone decides how it will come to pass.

    Often times, our grieving process comes before the dying. Even when death knocks unexpectedly at the door of those we love, many times there is at least a window of time wherein our loved one is still alive, and wherein our prayers are offered up. This, many times, is where the grieving process begins. We pray with expectation that God will heal if it’s His will. And it’s wonderful when His glory shines through such miraculous healing. But what happens when He doesn’t heal?

    In John 11, Mary and her sister Martha prayed on behalf of their brother Lazarus that Jesus quickly would heal him from his illness (v. 3). Jesus replied in verse 4, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it." Jesus’ express priority was not healing Lazarus as he lay on his deathbed; it was, rather, his opportunity to glorify the Father. Jesus knew that the resurrection of Lazarus would glorify God more than healing him from his illness. Even when we’re suffering and don’t understand why God would take the life of a young child or a promising adult, it’s important to remember that God, in His sovereignty, knows much more than we do.

    It’s also important to know that just because God didn’t answer our prayers for healing, He does love us. John 11:5 reminds us of that: "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." And just because the Lord has His own plans, which are sometimes not what we would choose, it does not mean He does not sympathize with our pain. In verse 32, Mary threw herself at Jesus’ feet and, in a sense, said, "Why weren’t you here? If you’d been here, Lazarus wouldn’t have died." Isn’t that like us? We are in such pain that we cry out to God: "If you had wanted to, you could have saved my loved one from death. Why didn’t you?" Jesus, in John 11:33, saw Mary weeping, and He saw the Jews who were with her weeping, and "He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled." Jesus–even knowing the plan to raise Lazarus and glorify the Father–still mourned with the mourners.

    Don’t let your mourning turn you away from the Lord. He sees and knows your pain. He is with you in your time of grief. Just as God’s priority was to be glorified in Lazarus’ death and resurrection, His priority with us is to be glorified. And sometimes that means suffering. He allows us to experience pain so that:

• We can appreciate and glorify Him when the pain ends.
• We will believe all the suffering was worth it when we’re in eternity. Without a background knowledge of pain, how can we truly appreciate the description of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:4, which says, "and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."
• We might bring others to the knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ. Nothing speaks louder to an unbelieving world than a Christian who suffers successfully and can rejoice in the glory of the Lord, no matter what the vehicle used to exhibit such glory.

    Though it is difficult, remember that the Lord has promised never to leave or forsake us. Share with Him your tears, your anger, and finally, your rejoicing when His glory comes. Even when you can’t see it, His glory will be fulfilled according to Romans 8:28: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

> Grief Before Dying
>  Why Me, Lord?
>  Food for Thought
>  Additional Resources
>  Powerpoints Archive