In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:9 (NIV)
Death is the great leveller. Each one of us will face death ourselves and most of us will face the death of a loved one or friend at some point in our lives. It seems that years can pass and within your circle of family and friends there are very few deaths and then you begin to face those around you dying. Is it just a product of age? Possibly, but coping with death doesn’t seem to get any easier.
I’ve always had a problem dealing with death; not with the physical event, but with the emotional legacy. This usually means that I find funerals difficult, knowing that as people may become emotional this will probably have a great effect on me. Is it wrong to feel that emotion, particularly when the close family members are grieving and needing comfort?
The verse from Isaiah 63 quoted above tells us clearly that God feels our distress. I think that this means that when we weep, he weeps too.
Knowing that God feels our distress is comforting for everyone facing bereavement. I pray that when you are facing the death of someone (whether family or friend) you won’t be afraid of the emotion. God’s comfort is there to be shared.
Every blessing
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