Last Tuesday during an ice storm we were out of power for nearly an hour. When the lights first went out we were all scrambling for matches and candles and flashlights. Coleman, our six-year-old son panicked. "Let's get outta heeyoe!" he exclaimed. We calmed him down and later all had a big laugh talking about it, including himself.
On Thursday Coleman and Zoe, our ten-year-old daughter missed their bus to school so I loaded them in the truck to take them there. On the way to school Coleman brought up the "Let's get outta heeyoe!" incident from Tuesday night, making fun of himself. After we giggled a bit I asked him seriously, "So Coley, why were you scared the other night?" He said, "Cause I'm scayoed of da dock." I said, "But Jesus is with us, even when its dark." He replied, "I know, Dad, you told me that when I was widdoe". I pressed further, "So if you knew Jesus was with you, why were you scared?" He said, "Cause I couldn't see Him!"
I thought about that funny, yet very profound insight from the mind of my little boy for days.
Last week a tragic death took place connected to our church.
The 81 year old mother of a member died suddenly at the hospital where she was recovering from a broken leg suffered on Christmas Eve. She had been making steady progress and the doctors were talking about releasing her in a few days. Within 24 hours she was gone. Doctors believe she died of a blood clot or massive heart attack or both. Needless to say, her four sons and their families were devastated. She was certainly one of the nicest, kindest, Christian ladies you would ever meet. Literally hundreds of people turned out for her calling hours and funeral.
Her youngest son is a member of our church. He was taking it the hardest. He is single, never married, no children. He lived at home helping to take care of his mother. The night she died he expressed to me wishing he could die too. He felt he had nothing left to live for. I kept close tabs on him throughout the week. Friends of his contacted me worried about his state of mind. I woke up one evening in the middle of the night burdened for him, praying for him.
The family asked me to officiate over the funeral service. I spent time for several days collecting my thoughts about the deceased and what to say. The family was very helpful in providing anecdotal stories of a lady who lived a full and substantive life. There were serious stories, funny stories, revealing stories and heart warming stories. The time had come to close the message with words of hope.
The idea came to me just minutes before the eulogy was to begin. I remembered what Coleman said earlier in the week about not seeing Jesus in the dark. It was as if the Lord said to me, "Listen to the wisdom of your son." And then it hit me. That conversation was for this very moment! The Lord wanted me to conclude the eulogy with the story and Coleman's declaration and then the statement, "But even when you can't see Him in the dark, let me assure you, Jesus is right there with you in the darkness."
The Lord was reaching out to a lot of hurting folks that day, especially to a son who felt like he was groping in an abyss. The cloud and fog of sorrow, dispondancy and grief was overwhelming him. The Lord used the purity of a little child to let him know that day that although he couldn't see Him, He was right there knowing, understanding and loving him through it all.
After the funeral and burial we all went to his home for food and fellowship. As I stood talking to my friend outside of his home I detected a sense of peace and relief that had not been there before. We talked and said he did feel a lot better although still very sad. I called him yesterday and he sounded much better. Today we're meeting for lunch.
I have a loved one who has been grieving for months over the death of her father. She told me last week she was depressed. I was concerned she might be suicidal at one point. I prayed for her yesterday with a especially urgent burden. In the prayer I asked God would show me some small ray of hope that He was healing her depths of sorrow. It didn't seem she was getting anywhere near improvement. I talked to her yesterday and she said "I guess I really just need to get over this." It was the first kind of statement like that I had heard from her in many months. I praised God for answering my prayer! I was encouraged. Jesus was showing again that He is in the darkness.
Psalm 18:11 says "He made darkness his secret place..."
Psalm 97:2 says "Clouds and darkness are round about him..." We serve a mysterious God. Yet He isn't so mysterious we can't find Him. He may seem to be far from us, but He never is. He may seem to have forsaken you, but He never will. In fact the God of Light is in the darkness. The Wisdom of God is in the midst of the mysteries of life. His Presence is in the voids and empty places.
Whoever you are, wherever you are hear the words of a child define how you may be feeling right now, "I know you told me Jesus is with me always, but I can't see Him in the dark!" Even though you may not see Him be sure of this one thing: Jesus IS in the dark.
Thanks for sharing! It definitely speaks volume to the silence so many people could be experiencing right now. By chance you have a blog to follow? Just wondering...
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