These things I remember, as I pour out
my soul: how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of
God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. Why
are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God;
for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
Psalm 42:4-5
In the many
years I have served as a bereavement counselor, the question has always been
asked by the grief-stricken person sitting in my office: “How could a loving
God allow this to happen?” And then, the next statement usually revolves around
their guilt—guilt for feeling angry with God, guilt for feeling so depressed and
“disquieted.”
Each time
this scenario plays out, my mind goes back to the time of my father’s death. I was
more than upset, more than “disquieted,” I was at a very low point. After
overcoming my fear of admitting how angry and hurt I was with God, I sought out
my Pastor, Fred Foerster. I will never forget the way he answered me, the “bereavement”
counselor, who was falling apart in his office!
“Sylvia,” he said,
“you’ve had a loving relationship with your father for 37 years. I know how
much he loved you. So think about it, how much more must your Father in Heaven
love you and want to comfort you now? So tonight, why don’t you just ‘crawl up in
His arms’ in prayer, and allow him to take over!”
The pastor didn’t
mince words, he gave me hope. It took me some quiet time, many more tears and more
concentration on my Pastor’s words, but I was able to let go of my bitterness
and allow the hope of Christ to come back into my heart. I was able to “again praise
him, my help and my God.”
Loving God,
remind us at our lowest points that you love us. Gather us into your loving
arms of peace and comfort us with your love. Amen.
Sylvia
Havlish, MEd., is the Coordinator of Bereavement Ministries at Lutheran
Congregational Services.
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