Because the horrific tragedy of this past week in Boston, Massachusetts is not a common experience for Americans, many people are not able to cope with such acts of violence and death. In fact, this week's message can apply to any tragic situation or event in our lives. I would like to offer words of truth and comfort from the God of truth and comfort. Rest assured that you will not hear a rehashing or an interpretation of this week’s news.
My dear readers, if your hearts are open, it is my hope that this message from God’s Word will penetrate and bring healing to your soul. Also, I would like to share some emotional, spiritual and practical help from the wisdom that comes from God’s Word, the Bible.
If you have your Bible handy, turn to Nehemiah 1:1-2:8. The name "Nehemiah" means "the comfort of Yahweh" or "God has comforted." If you want to move from grief to recovery, you need to respond to pain, to God, and to opportunities. These are the three steps to ensure that you do not get stuck in the grief but move toward recovery.
First, we move from grief to recovery by responding to our pain. We read this in Nehemiah 1:4. Folks who do not respond to the pain, but try to stuff their emotions will find that the emotions will erupt like a volcano during the most unexpected times. If you've been more irritable this past week than usual, you've not had the needed time to deal with your pain. Only those who have responded to the pain can move ahead. And you can only respond to the pain when you know what you are feeling.
Second, we move from grief to recovery by responding to God. We read this in Nehemiah 1:5-11. This is the prayer of Nehemiah, the conversation Nehemiah had with God. When the king asked why Nehemiah was sad, Nehemiah didn't hide his sadness but yielded to the opportunity. Nehemiah risked execution and told the king the reason for his sadness.
As a result of Nehemiah’s yielding to God’s opportunity for him, he secured the help of the king to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Realize that praise, repentance, asking and yielding are a state of the heart, not a one-time prayer.
Third, we move from grief to recovery by responding to opportunities. We read this in Nehemiah 2:1-8. Chapter one opens in the month of Kislev, which is November to December in that calendar, and by the time we get to chapter two, we are in the month of Nisan, which is March to April.
Four months have passed before God opened up the opportunity for Nehemiah to take action. More importantly, we see that Nehemiah had been preparing in those four months for the opportunities. He knew exactly what was needed to rebuild the walls when the opportunity came. To move from grief to recovery, we need to be ready to respond to opportunities.
After we have responded to our pain and responded to God, we need to prepare for the opportunities God will bring in answer to our prayer. Responding to opportunities helps us not get stuck inwardly on the road to recovery.
In closing, the Bible tells us, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18)." You want to move from grief to recovery? Respond to the opportunity to love others during unstable times. Love those who are in fear and love those whom you fear. God’s Word promises that love will drive out all fear.
Scripture: Revelation 21:4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 147:3; 1 Peter 5:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:13; John 14:1; John 14:27; Philippians 3:13-14; Joshua 1:9
Now, let's pray...
O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for in thy name's sake. Amen
Until next time...
Have a blessed week!
Bibi
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