The first time I saw him, I cried. He looked like a perfect newborn asleep in his crib. But we knew he would never wake up. Not until he was in the arms of Jesus.
He clung to life for several months. Then his mother told us of his death in a heart-wrenching email. She wrote of that deep, deep pain that groans inside you. Then she said, How deeply God carved His work of love into our hearts through that little life! What a powerful life it was!
Powerful? How could she say that?
This familys precious little boy showed themand usthat we must depend on God for everything. Especially when things go horribly wrong! The hard yet comforting truth is that God meets us in our pain. He knows the grief of losing a Son.
In our deepest pain, we turn to the songs of David because he writes out of his own grief. How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? he asked (Ps. 13:2). Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death (v. 3). Yet David could give his biggest questions to God. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation (v. 5).
Only God can bring ultimate significance to our most tragic events.
INSIGHT
We may be surprised to hear a cry of abandonment coming from David, a man who knew God intimately. Psalm 13 describes Davids struggle. He was threatened by powerful enemies and distressed by Gods seeming prolonged apathy and absence, feeling forsaken in the time of his greatest need. How long, Lord? he asks. David questioned if God would ever come to his rescue (vv. 12). Even as he felt the sting of abandonment, David turned his turmoil over to God, asking Him for a deeper understanding of his circumstances (vv. 34). Anchoring himself in Gods unfailing covenantal love, David renews his trust in God (vv. 56).
Like David, you may be going through a rough patch, engulfed by feelings of dread and abandonment. God may seem silent, but He is never absent. Scripture confirms He will never leave or forsake anyone who calls on Him (Heb. 13:56).