Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Where was God when Nick died?
I first met Nick when he, his Mom, and his sister started visiting Southern Hills. They came because their next door neighbors asked them to church. Nick's girlfriend and her family were visiting Southern Hills while looking for a church home, so Nick got a little more interested in coming to church.
It was Saturday night before Easter. Nick and his Mom were planning on coming to church the next morning. Nick even had a new Easter suit he was going to wear. He was a Junior in high school, an honor roll student, and a gifted musician.
And that night he was killed in automobile accident. His Mom was injured in the wreck and was in the hospital for almost a week. Our preacher, Jarrod Robinson, and I did the funeral yesterday. Buried him in the suit he was going to wear to church.
It always happens in a tragedy you never see coming... questions, questions, and more questions.
But most of them center around this one question: where was God when Nick died?
So I want to tell you where I saw God this week.
I saw God in the mom's hospital room. Visits from so many of our members. Mary, the next door neighbor, and Cherisse, the girlfriend's Mom, were amazing in crying with, taking care of, and just being with her. Lots of prayers said in that room. Lots of hugs and tears too. Lots of God words spoken into her life.
God was there when we gathered to celebrate the life of Nick. He was there when His Word was spoken. He was there when words of comfort were shared. He was there in the memories shared. He was there when the Wylie band played It Is Well.
He was there at the graveside when Scripture, prayers, memories, hugs, and love were being shared by people who love Nick, his family, and his friends.
I saw God when precious sisters prepared and served a meal for the family afterwards. I saw it when one of them shared her story of losing a teenage daughter.
So where was God when Nick was killed? Where is always is... right in the middle of our lives. In our hugs. In our service. In our tears. He is among us in our prayers, our words, our meals, our songs, and our sharing.
He is where He always is... among us. Seen thru his people following Him. Letting our lives of love point to Him.
So God thanks for being among us when Nick died. Thanks for your people seeing with your eyes and serving as your hands. Thank you for people who reflect your heart. Thank you for being there. May we all see you more clearly.
It was Saturday night before Easter. Nick and his Mom were planning on coming to church the next morning. Nick even had a new Easter suit he was going to wear. He was a Junior in high school, an honor roll student, and a gifted musician.
And that night he was killed in automobile accident. His Mom was injured in the wreck and was in the hospital for almost a week. Our preacher, Jarrod Robinson, and I did the funeral yesterday. Buried him in the suit he was going to wear to church.
It always happens in a tragedy you never see coming... questions, questions, and more questions.
But most of them center around this one question: where was God when Nick died?
So I want to tell you where I saw God this week.
I saw God in the mom's hospital room. Visits from so many of our members. Mary, the next door neighbor, and Cherisse, the girlfriend's Mom, were amazing in crying with, taking care of, and just being with her. Lots of prayers said in that room. Lots of hugs and tears too. Lots of God words spoken into her life.
God was there when we gathered to celebrate the life of Nick. He was there when His Word was spoken. He was there when words of comfort were shared. He was there in the memories shared. He was there when the Wylie band played It Is Well.
He was there at the graveside when Scripture, prayers, memories, hugs, and love were being shared by people who love Nick, his family, and his friends.
I saw God when precious sisters prepared and served a meal for the family afterwards. I saw it when one of them shared her story of losing a teenage daughter.
So where was God when Nick was killed? Where is always is... right in the middle of our lives. In our hugs. In our service. In our tears. He is among us in our prayers, our words, our meals, our songs, and our sharing.
He is where He always is... among us. Seen thru his people following Him. Letting our lives of love point to Him.
So God thanks for being among us when Nick died. Thanks for your people seeing with your eyes and serving as your hands. Thank you for people who reflect your heart. Thank you for being there. May we all see you more clearly.
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The question to me is: can you see through intense emotional, physical, and mental pain?
You have learned to look for God in daily activities by good people. People going through the fog, or blindness of grief may not see what you do.
Can you see God through their eyes?
You have learned to look for God in daily activities by good people. People going through the fog, or blindness of grief may not see what you do.
Can you see God through their eyes?
I have been thinking about Eloise's question. So here are a couple of reactions. Sometimes the pain is so great that people cannot see anything. It may be some time later when they realize that God was present. That is one reason I think it important that Christians always do things in the name of Jesus. It is a reminder of why we are there serving, and a statement to them. I am reminded that we need to remember people in grief or anger need to be able to express feelings. We do not have to agree with them, but they are real. Sometimes we are doing recognized ministry, but sometimes we are planting seeds that will bear fruit later. I do think we have to be intentional about serving in the name of God. I do believe He is there whether recognized or not. Good question and thoughts as always.
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