The day started as a great day. It was Friday, the sun was shining, and I felt good. I drove to the University, entered my office, and got ready to start the day
I went to the third floor to have a conversation with another colleague when a mutual friend on the hall came in and told us that our beloved friend and former colleague had been killed in a car accident that morning on his way to work.
This young man was only 31. He had married the girl of his dreams and had two beautiful sons. He had landed his dream job and was pursuing his doctoral degree. That day was his oldest son’s birthday.
We stood around in shock at the news as tears flowed down our faces. This young man was a spectacular example of a Christian man. He always smiled, gave unconditionally of himself, was a leader of other young men, was an amazing musician and singer, and was my prayer partner at work.
The first question in my mind was “Why?” But the better question was, what am I to learn from this?
My maternal grandmother taught me as a child that whenever I had a life question, I could find the answer in the Word of God.
Fifty years ago in August, I asked Jesus into my heart. All these years later, what my grandmother taught me still holds true. Everything I need, I find in God’s Word. As I searched for answers to the pain of grief and loss, I was drawn to these verses and what they teach me about dealing with grief, loss, and tragedy.
There are Lessons in the Loss
“Life is a vapor that appeareth for a little while, then vanisheth away” (James 4:14, KJV). I am only here for a short while. I need to be intentional about leaving no words of love unspoken, no forgiveness ungiven, and no grace unextended, so I will have no regrets.
There is Purpose for the Pain
God often uses pain or trials to grow my faith so that in my helplessness and weakness, I see His strength. My Father is a good Father. He will not leave me in the fiery furnace one second longer than is needed to refine me as gold. His hand is on the thermostat and His eye is on the timer.
There is Triumph in the Tragedy
That Friday was my friend’s Coronation Day. He was promoted from a world of sin, pain, and loss to a world of light, love, and best of all, Jesus. He has an incorruptible body now that disease or death can never touch again. I know he is praising the God he loved and singing his heart out now. I can rejoice because I know my friend is in a far better place, and he wouldn’t want to come back if he could.
There is Joy for the Journey
1 Thessalonians 4:13 (KJV) tells me, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” I am encouraged by the verse in Revelation 21:4 (KJV) “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away”. And one last verse, John 16:22 (KJV) “And ye now, therefore, have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you”. Tears last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
The loss I felt at the passing of my friend and colleague was immense and long-lasting. But the hope we find in Jesus can bring lessons of purpose, triumph, and joy in the midst of tragedy.
Mary Willis
Social Work
Limestone University