One of those close friends messaged me yesterday to say that his father had just died. And I knew his father because we had all socialised together on various happy occasions when Keith and I and the boys had been over visiting our friends and their parents had been there. In fact, our family had been invited over to the parents house for lunch on a couple of occasions, and we had invited them all over to us too. So although we were not technically good friends with the parents, we did know them and like them and enjoy their company. So today we are feeling sad on two counts, sad for our friends who have lost their dad/father-in-law/grandad. And sad for the wife/mum/grandma who has lost her husband. That will be the fourth funeral to go to since the new year. What is going on??
Yesterday I was praying with my prayer triplet. Once of them was updating us on a litany of difficulties and troubles about which we have been praying over several months. Health problems, financial pressures, a daughter being bullied at work and a son who has just lost his job, a granddaughter who is stressed because of family issues..... and so the list goes on. Why does it seem that sometimes, some people, just get a relentless stream of rubbish thrown at them? Why has this year for me just been one long round of people dying? Why do we seem to go through seasons when we just want to stop the world and get off?
I offer no answers to these questions. I have no profound words of wisdom. All I know is that it happens to us all. Thankfully it doesnt happen to us all at the same time - so for every one of us who is going through a relentless season there will be others who are in the sunny uplands and doing fine. And I know from experience that one of the only things which can help us through the relentless days is the prayer support, care and concern of those around us. Often there is nothing much to be done except hunker down and get on with it. But knowing someone is beside us holding up our hands in the battle can be a strength and a comfort. The sunny uplanders might feel a bit helpless looking on as the battlers battle away - but battlers need to know that there are people who have come through their battles and are still standing. Uplanders can recognise and be thankful that God has pulled them through and cheer with encouragement from the sidelines, speaking hope and giving testimony to God's faithfulness. This is one of the many reasons we can't do Christianity without church. A solitary and isolated faith cant stand under a relentless wave of attack. But together we can hold each other up, protect and shield each other and bind each others wounds.
In the days of relentless negativity look up to Jesus and reach out to those He has put around you. You can win the battle if there are people on each side of you holding up your hands.
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