When You Loose A Love One
by Gwendolyn D. Hall, Fort Washington, MD
Catagory: Volume 1, Issue 3 and 4 MARCH/APRIL1999
When You Loose A Love One
Gwendolyn D. Hall
There are moments in our lives that we wished we didn’t have to bear, but circumstances permit them anyway. Losing a spouse or a loved one is one of those dreaded times. Many men and women are ushered into widowhood everyday. They are forced to take on a role they never experienced. However, there is a solution. Begin your new role with hope and faith in the most trusted friend we have – Jesus Christ, our Saviour. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path.” (Prov. 3:5)
You may spend hour after hour grieving over your loved one and become depressed or ill. Don’t let the devil rob you of many precious hours that could be spent in praising, worshiping and glorifying the Lord. Cast all your cares upon the Lord for He cares for you. Expect the Lord to bring you through this desert in your life. (Luke 1:37) “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
I have lost many family members and loved ones. Some of the deaths overlapped. Between 1987-88,
I lost my husband’s sister, two nieces and a cousin within a seven-month period. The pain of grief was intense, but I looked to the Lord, who was my only source of help and the Holy Spirit who was my comforter.
It is true, no one will ever realize what the loss of a loved one means to you except God. Yet, there is great consolation in knowing that your loved one is in heaven with the Lord if he or she was a Christian. Grief always follows a death, but you don’t have to hang on to it. The sooner you accept the fact that grief is an enemy to you and that this change in your life is a permanent one, the better it will be for you. At this point you will begin to move into the healing process. (II Thess. 2:16) “God has given us everlasting hope through grace.”
After the funeral, you will have to start adjusting to your new life. The crowd of concerned friends and family members will have returned to their normal lives and you are faced with the reality of what has taken place in your life within this short period of time. No one can speed up this process of recovery for you. You will have to do it.
Choose to be joyful, instead of sad, and be determined to move on with your normal routine. Don’t feel sorry for yourself or expect others to regard your feelings of sadness, because people soon forget the sorrow of others. Avoid yearning or longing for your loved one who, in reality, will never return. Acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ in all that you do. Think everything through thoroughly and do not make any hasty decisions. Pray for wisdom, strength and guidance.
It might encourage you if you spend time talking to relatives or close friends. In conversing with others, you will find that they have encountered some of the same experiences that you are undergoing.
Naturally, you might feel lonely, bored, helpless or broken up inside at times. Pull yourself up immediately.
Philippians 1:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 1:13 says “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” In your leisure moments, browse through the family album. Think of all the lovely and exciting times you spent with this special person. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself smiling through the tears.
Keep God’s Word near you. Read the Word! Memorize the Word! Pray the Word! God’s Word contains everything you need in your life.
Be of good cheer and set your affection on things above, not on things on earth. Seek to fulfill God’s divine destination for our life, for one day you too will be summoned to your eternal destination. Prepare for that day. If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, don’t hesitate. Do it now. Heb. 3:15 While it is said, “Today if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the provocation.” Rom. 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
