{"id":32728,"date":"2021-09-05T03:30:05","date_gmt":"2021-09-05T10:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=32728"},"modified":"2021-08-31T16:35:24","modified_gmt":"2021-08-31T23:35:24","slug":"september-5-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2021\/09\/05\/september-5-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"September 5, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cThe Lord is near to those who are discouraged; He saves those who have lost all hope.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Psalm 34:18<\/p>\n

Grief Is Like a Tunnel<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Walk His Way Revisited<\/em><\/p>\n

Sometimes we are warned that grief approaches. Circumstances spell out the dreaded message. Other times grief slams down upon us with the brute force of a horrific wave, knocking the breath from us, rendering us completely disoriented. Grief\u2019s tunnel is NEVER a destination of choice.<\/p>\n

I washed in grief when our son died. It was frightful at first, so solitary, so prison-like. I struggled to accommodate the void within and the void without, so painful they felt physical. My sense of direction felt challenged and I groped my way as by braille. Progression seemed a forever pace.<\/p>\n

But, in time, as I gained equilibrium, I sought the Lord. I begged Him for a way to cope.<\/p>\n

Let me encourage you that God will be with us if we ask Him. He will be the Light for our way, and the strong arm on which to lean. This is not to say that sadness is banished, but there comes a comfort and a hope He brings that allows us to surmount our sorrows and gives the soul a higher sight.<\/p>\n

Counting your blessings one by one causes the aperture of the mind\u2019s eye to shift. A faint light at the end of our tunnel dawns, and we are drawn to quicken our steps toward it. Jeremiah 17:7-8 assures us,\u00a0“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He shall be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Jeremiah 29:11 promises,\u00a0\u201c\u2018For I know the plans I have for you,\u2019 declares the Lord, \u2018plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

My heart has been shattered through the pain of loss, and in my frailty I stand upon His indomitable Word that faithfully promises, \u201cBlessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted<\/em>.\u201d I am wrapped in the words of the psalmist who probed his own heart: \u201cWhere shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me\u201d (Psalm 139:7-10). <\/em><\/p>\n

Depend on the Lord to lead you out of your darkness and into His light. He will see that you arrive safely at the tunnel\u2019s end where there is light for the eyes and peace for your soul.<\/p>\n

Lord, Your presence brings me peace, comfort, and the hope that soon I may even be \u2018surprised by joy\u20191 once again. In the exceeding greatness and power of Your Name I pray. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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