the loss of a loved one

We have lost another stalwart in our church. A good man, faithful in word and deed. An example and a testimony to those of us left behind.

How do we fill the hole that the loss of a good man brings? How do we possibly take the loss and move forward in a positive manner?

King David was a man who knew of loss, of triumph, of sorrow, of joys.

He left us the Psalms that are a mirror to his soul. He deftly wrote of any and all situations that are possible to man. He was a man after God's own heart, he knew life and the struggles thereof.

He was a hero, an outcast, a man on the run chased by jealousy, a King, a sinner, a bereft father, and a confused donating human.

If ever there was someone who could empathize with the plights we face it was David. In his Psalms we have such a library that Charles Spurgeon devoted much of his study to them., called the treasury of David.

In his Psalms King David tells us:

Psalm 4:6-8 KJV 

6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety

Here David tells us to turn to God and rest in Him.

We can not replace the ones gone ahead of us into Paradise. We can only rest assured in the grace and goodness of our God.

God and God alone can bring peace in these times, in these seasons of grief and trouble. When our hearts fear and grieve we must look to the Cross. Jesus brings us that peace we need.

Whilst we shall never understand His ways, we can understand that our Heavenly Father has our best interests at heart.

While we may never fill the holes, the shoes of the one gone before us, we can carry on in the race and leave it to our God to replace the team mate we just lost.

We must say goodbye for the moment, but we look forward to the joy of reunion. The blessed hope that we have that we too shall be together again in the sweet by and by.