The God of Healing & Comfort

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

 Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart;

 and you shall find rest for your souls. "For My yoke is easy, and My load is light."



This Saturday, January 26th is a very significant day for our family.  It will be 1 year that baby Jonah entered the world and left this world.  As I think about the past year it has been a whirlwind of emotions.  So many changes have taken place, some good, some bad.  There have been happy times and sad times.  I always think of how life would be different if Jonah were still here.  What would he be like?  Would he be walking already, or would he prefer to be held the way his sisters always did?  What would have been his first word?  What color would his hair have been?  Would he look like more like mommy or daddy?  The list goes on and on.  I find myself in a daze, daydreaming about the son I would have had, the son I should have had.  Then, I remind myself that yes, it's OK to miss him like crazy, but God's plans are different then mine.  Whether I agree with His plan or not, His ways are good. He is good.  I don't need to understand everything, because I'm trusting that He knows all of the unanswered "whys" and "whats" that can consume my mind.

Almost 2 weeks ago, some very close friends of ours delivered twin baby girls.  We were so excited for them, rejoicing at the thought of these sweet babies and the opportunity for our friends to experience parenthood.  Our joy and excitement suddenly took a turn as they learned one of their baby girls had Trisomy 18.  This chromosomal illness would make it very difficult for their baby to survive.  We immediately felt broken.  How can this be?  All I could think was, "Lord we pleaded with you on behalf of our friends, we did not want to see them go thought what we went through.  Isn't it enough that we went through it?"  I couldn't help but question God's timing, He knows it's Jonah's 1st anniversary.  It's like it was happening all over again, only this time we are looking in from the outside.  Our hearts are heavy.  Nobody should have to experience this pain.  It just doesn't seem fair and it's so hard to see the good in it.  I'm not going to lie or cover up anything, I've been struggling through this.  Sometimes I just don't get it.

It was this past Saturday I received a text from a mentor.  It read, "All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us." (2 Cor. 1:3-4) 
She went on to say that she knows I am being a comfort to my friend who is struggling with the thought of losing her daughter.  And that's when my eyes opened a little wider.  I realized (again)  that this is all part of God's plan.  He knew we needed to be there for our friends.  Only God would know that our friends would go through something similar almost exactly 1 year later.  He allowed us to go through it first, He brought us much comfort so that we could share it with our friends.  He is using us and that feels good!  Another reminder that He can bring good from even the most difficult situation, He is good!  He knows what we need, and when and how we need it.

Maybe you've been through something difficult in your life, or maybe you're experiencing something now?  Stay open to the fact that if you allow Him, God will use it for His good and glory.  Sometimes we can't see clearly during the storm because there is so much fog in the way.  But as that fog clears, continue to keep your eyes fixed on Him, only He can give purpose and clarity in a way that brings a tremendous amount of healing and comfort. 

If you think of it, pray for our friends and their baby Madelyn.  They need strength, comfort, and healing.