Life Goes On

Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Read 2 Samuel 15:1 through 19:43

(19:8) So the king arose and sat in the gate. When they told all the people, saying, "Behold, the king is sitting in the gate," then all the people came before the king. (NASB)

The hardest part of arriving at the cemetery is leaving the cemetery. You've spent the better part of the last week grieving over your loss. You've spent time with friends and family, all trying to console you and help with at least a little firm footing on which you can stand. You've endured the funeral, and now it's time to move forward. In these moments it's felt like life has been standing still... like the hands on your watch have frozen. But they haven't, have they? No sooner than taking that first step toward the car do you realize, "Not only does life go on, life has been going on."

Contrary to our polling results, for many the most difficult part of experiencing grief is the act of rejoining life in the midst of it. We now see David mourning over another son and not wanting to rejoin life. But he did, and so must we. Can you think of a time when you experienced grief and forced yourself to rejoin life? And what do you sense God did in the ensuing days to minister to you?

We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.
Kenji Miyazawa