HIS WORDS OR HIS ACTIONS

“I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18

Not First With Anyone

HIS EXAMPLE TO US

Jesus promised that when He departed from earth, He would go to prepare a place for us. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

 MY STORY

After our last parent died, my sister said to me, “Now we are orphans. We no longer have parents.” Since we were adults, I hadn’t thought of it that way, but yes, we were now orphans. But Jesus told us in John 14:18 that He would not leave us orphans, but He will come to us. Come to us indeed—through His Holy Spirit He abides in us, so we no longer need to feel orphaned. God is Father to the fatherless.

Recently my sister had to say her goodbyes to her sweet husband as Jesus came to take him to the place He prepared for him in heaven. A bittersweet experience, for certain. To be absent from my sister, whom he dearly loved, he was present with his Lord and Savior whom he dearly loved. When I asked her, “Out of all the difficulties you have to deal with, which is the most difficult?” Her answer surprised me. “I think it is not being first with anyone anymore.” Wow, what a profound thought.

MY RESPONSE

I have pondered that statement more than she knows. It broke my heart for her but opened my eyes to so many around me dealing with that same great loss. Not only “orphaned” but now “widowed.” How utterly alone one could feel in those circumstances. I am thankful that my sister knows that she is not left alone and can find peace in Jesus during those lonely times. In Psalm 68:5 God said that He will be “Father to the fatherless, defender of widows, this is God, whose dwelling is holy.”

MY PRAYER

“Father God, thank You that You are the Father to the fatherless and the defender of widows. Your words bring me great comfort because I know that You are caring for my sister and my widowed friends. Thank You, Jesus, for preparing a place for us so that where You are, we will be with You.”