Life was just getting good. New church with a bunch of new friends. Tons of laughs were shared on the night of a youth group gathering at the house of one of the families from the church. As the night drew to a close, we all packed up our stuff and made our way back to the church. When we all arrived, we were greeted by some startling news from the pastor and his wife. News about how one of the youth that attended the church was killed in a skiing accident earlier that day. Everyone's day seemed to be ruined. How were we supposed to handle a thing like this?
First Thoughts
When we get caught by surprise by these awful things like death of a loved one, it is hard to have good thoughts. We can become very judgmental and angry. We can become angry at God and act like we have the authority to judge Him. The fact of the matter is God gave us life and has the power to take our lives away whenever He wants, and it is only by His grace that He doesn't take our lives away right at this moment. Genesis 2:7 says, "the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Acts 17:25, "And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else." What I am trying to bring out is the fact that God is the one who has given us life. We can't tell God when it is a good time for Him to take someone's life away or when it isn't. Even though it is hard, we have to be submissive to God as our Creator.
Getting Through The Shock
After a little bit of time, what has happened will sink in and we will start to see things for how they really are. We need to be open to God's will and His plan for us and the situation. We also need to keep our eyes on the Lord and not lose faith in Him. Ephesians 6:16-17 says," In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." The "evil one" can use a time like this to get you involved with some pretty bad things. A whole lot of people have gotten into drugs, alcohol, and a lot of other bad things because of the depression caused by the death of a loved one. So let's be careful in the way we get through the shock of a loved ones death. Look to God's love and the love of family or different Christians.
Ministering Through Death
Are there maybe friends that you could minister to because of this situation? John 3:15, "That everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." Verses like this can give some people hope and inspiration needed at a moment like this. The death of a loved one can really open our eyes to the fact that death is very real and can confront us when we aren't ready. John 3:36," Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 6:40,"For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." We need to spread God's message of eternal life to everyone, and this is a perfect time to do so. Make sure you pray for those in need of God and His saving grace.
So when we are faced with a terrible thing such as death of a loved one, let's not blame it on God or get angry at anyone, but rather use it as a time of ministry and a time to get closer to God and His love. Show others God's love and keep them in your daily prayers. Death is a hard thing to go through and no one should go through it alone. Always look to God and He will be by your side.
