Hey everyone! Apologies for not writing sooner… I have been wanting to write so many blog posts and have started keeping a book of things I want to write about. So much has been happening it feels. I have a lot that I want to share with all of you.
Comforting those who are grieving
I have been quite upset this last month as quite a few people that are close to me have been affected by the death of a loved one. It seems that people are getting sick all around me and all I want to do is give everyone a massive cuddle and comfort them. My heart goes out to several people that are hurting right now due to losing someone close to them or people that they have known that are passing away. Death is a very real part of life, even if it is the end of a life. Those that are left behind have to somehow carry on from day to day with memories, hurt, tears, anger, confusion and so many other emotions. There are unanswered questions and the feeling of hopelessness. Of course there are other emotions such as celebrating the life of that person, knowing that they are out of any pain, giving us a chance to reflect on our own lives, and perhaps changing our perspective on many things.
I may not have the answers on why people are taken from us through illness, or accidents, natural disasters or even old age when we don’t want them to go. Nobody wants to face the possibility of losing a loved one or even the prospect of one day having to pass on themselves. I want to offer all the comfort and hope that I have for those that are hurting specifically through the death of a loved one at the moment. You are not alone. Far from it. I might not have all the answers. However, I do know one who is the greatest source of comfort of all. You would have heard of Him before. His name is Jesus. I know you have heard of Him but there is a HUGE difference between hearing about Him and actually KNOWING Him. He can see the bigger picture of our problems when we can only see one jigsaw piece.
Knowing God
I know I talk about God a lot on my blog and He has become the biggest focus of most of my entries. Some of you might find it annoying, others interested and more of you thinking, why talk about this? I talk about it so much and so passionately because I KNOW God. He has impacted my life so I can truthfully and happily tell you about how awesome He is. I have needed comfort a lot in life and have been blessed to realise that God is right there amidst the hardest times of it. Some examples include: staying in the USA for 4 months by myself, fighting cancer as a 19 year old, coping with the death of my Grandad, moving to America when I was 7, relationship breakdowns, abuse, seeing my friends get hurt or ill, my sister’s disability to name a few. There have been many circumstances in my life which have left me feeling broken inside but I know that I have a source of comfort 24/7.
This leads me on to my second point. I wanted to share with you how moody I’ve been getting. I mean proper grouchy, ice woman, don’t come near me moody. It’s been pretty intense and I want to apologise and say thank you to my close friends who have had to put up with me! This moodiness results from not spending enough time with the the Lord. As I spend less time reading my Bible, praying, talking to other Christians, I find myself getting upset, annoyed, and angry. Being a Christian is a whole life decision. For example, if you are really sporty and need to do exercise and don’t do it for a while, you can get restless, agitated and unfit. If you always have to have your morning tea or coffee and then go without it, watch out world. The same is true for being a Christian. When you realise how great God is, you actively need Him and seek Him. You can’t help it.
When I get some time with God with no distractions, everything that has been hurting me, annoying me, angering me, I just cast it all on Him. He takes the weight off my shoulders. If I don’t get that time, I will eventually break down. There is always a niggling feeling in my mind that I need that time. That is God picking me up when I feel overwhelmed and constantly wanting me to spend that time with Him. In James 4:10 it says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
If you ever need me to pray for anything for you, just let me know.
An Anchored Hope 