| Grief and God – where is he when I need him the most? |
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ARTICLE SUMMARY Cries of pain came from Kathy, as she tried to turn over in bed. ‘Why does this have to hurt so much?’ she thought. Looking back over her life she realized how close she had remained with God, in good times and bad. But lately, as the pain increased, she began to wonder if there really was a good God after all. Why does God allow so much suffering and grief in this world?
Grief and God – where is he when I need him the most? FULL ARTICLE Cries of pain came from Kathy, as she tried to turn over in bed. ‘Why does this have to hurt so much?’ she thought. Looking back over her life she realized how close she had remained with God, in good times and bad. But lately, as the pain increased, she began to wonder if there really was a good God after all. Why does God allow so much suffering and grief in this world? God permits it, but does not want it. God gives to us the ability to choose – the ultimate right of choice, to choose good or evil. Most often, good and evil choices are not that clear to us. But pain - who would choose that? Death - who would choose this? Death is an inescapable fact of being alive. If we did not have life, we would not have death. So that we are alive, we must accept death. But do we – do we need to accept it? Our freedoms allow us the choice as to our own attitudes when it comes to suffering and grief. Sometimes we cannot help ourselves, when our anger or despair weighs us so much that we cannot make clear decisions, and we blame God for our pain. If you or your loved one in times of weakness do rebel against our good God – it is what it is. But then seek forgiveness from God during those times you are able to. During the times you or your loved one are not angry with God – then you should choose the path of acceptance, forgiveness and love, and help your loved one with this as well. Then you can help your loved one embrace the grief, and help prepare them for the journey ahead. We may not ever understand why these bad things happen – but we must try to trust God. As Jesus suffered and was nailed to the cross, he turned to his father and said “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Just as you may ask God when your heart is full of grief – why have you abandoned my loved one? As you struggle with grief, and try to aid your loved ones in the process of dealing with grief, turn to God with the same words of trust that Jesus spoke to his Father right before he died “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”. |