March 10, 2023
Naomi Suffered Loss
My precious child’s loss is a difficult challenge to overcome; the Father understands and is present to comfort, strengthen, and love on you. Naomi knew firsthand what it was like to experience great loss. Her husband and both her sons died in a short time. (Ruth 1:1-4) She faced her loss honestly and allowed herself to grieve, but the test of any recovery process is how well it works when times are bad. Not long after their death, she decided to leave Moab where there was famine, and go back to Bethlehem to her people, and Ruth went with her. (Ruth 1:7)
When loss is unchecked, it worsens and becomes depression. If you have suffered a loss, you need to be accountable to someone who helps you through the grief process. When all you focus on is the loss, grief will overwhelm you, and depression will come. Find a spiritually mature person to lovingly confront the depressive despair with meekness and love. (Galatians 6:1-10) Instead of being focused on your loss – redirect your attention to your loved one’s source of inspiration, kindness, willingness to help others, their love, and giving spirit. When you take your grief and use it to love your neighbors and help them, it demonstrates your love for God.
When my Dad passed, at his Visitation/Wake much healing came to me when six to eight people came to me and shared. My Dad was a farmer, and he had a love of growing beautiful flowers. I had no clue who these people were, but they knew who I was. They shared that ‘every summer your Dad (a farmer) would bring a truckload of fruits and vegetables with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and give to their family.’ My Dad sowed bountifully into the lives of others. (2 Corinthians 9:6) My Dad never said a word about sowing into their lives. This blessed me more than words can say. It helped me to be focused on the man of honor and integrity that he was and heaven’s gain.
The Bible is clear, ‘I would not have you to be ignorant about those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord, himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) No one can comfort and strengthen you like the Lord God Almighty.
