Joy in the Morning

“They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord – the grain, the new wine and the oil, the young of the flocks and herds. The will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more.” Jeremiah 31:12

It has been a tough few weeks as some around me have dealt with the incredible sorrow of death.  It began with the passing of Amy Wilhoite.  She had suffered from Leukemia and chronicled her struggle on her blog.  Many times I would read her struggles and cry with her, even though I have never met her, as she prayed for God to deliver her from this sickness.  Many of us bloggers prayed for a miracle.  God delivered her to the ultimate healing on September 10^th.  Now my prayers have turned towards her grieving family and the young child left behind.

The following Sunday, our Pastor announced that a couple in our church had lost their 21 year old son to a car accident.  We are fairly new to the church so I honestly do not know the couple or their son.  However, they are my church family and I cannot imagine the pain they are feeling and have been praying for God’s comfort for them.

Several months ago, I wrote this “In Other Words” about a friend’s mother had received a kidney and liver transplant.  At the time I wrote that, we did not know if she would make it.  Things did improve for a time, although she has spent the last 5 months in the hospital.  Then last week, she took an unrecoverable turn for the worst and passed away Tuesday night.  I have watched my friend agonize over her mother’s health for the last 3 years.  I remember the prayers that her health would be improved enough to receive the transplants.  Illnesses kept occurring and the doctors would have to remove her from the transplant list.  I’ll never forget the joy in her email when she sent out an urgent request for prayer as the transplant was finally going to happen.  In the end, God delivered her mom in His way.

Sorrow and death is inevitable.  That is simply part of our fallen world.  It is in that sorrow that we have to trust and believe in God’s sovereignty.  He alone has the plan for us.  We may not always like it, we may have sorrows along the way but if we trust Him, He will never let us down.

Today, I dedicate this to Amy, Margie and the young man from our church.  I pray for comfort for those families and close with this verse in Isaiah.  One glorious day we will have sorrow no more and all of us will receive our ultimate deliverance through Christ!

“Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.” Isaiah 60:20 NIV

Dear Heavenly and Gracious Lord, I lift up these families to You that have lost loved ones in the past few days.  Their grief is fresh, real and I can imagine sorrowful beyond the expression of words.  But You are the ultimate comforter, healer and deliverer.  I pray for your comfort on them.  Give them strength when they are weak and confidence in You to go on – knowing one glorious day they will see their loved ones again.  I pray for comfort for those as well who have lost loved ones.  God, You are our comfort, our strength, our shield and I pray your love on all the hurting women out there today.  In your precious and holy name.  Amen.

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