When My Heart is Overwhelmed

February was a month filled with sadness. The presence of death and illness seemed to be everywhere. We said goodbye to Coretta Scott King, a pioneer in the Civil Rights Movement and a woman of faith, courage and leadership. My husband’s family experienced the death of his uncle, of whom I will always remember his welcoming smile. Several members of our congregation lost mothers and children, and other family members. Friends of mine lost parents and friends and associates through car accidents and disease. The entertainment world lost veteran actors and singers and just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, my teenage daughter came home and told me that a former classmate was killed in a car accident at 14 years old! Bad news seemed to reach my ears on what seemed like a daily basis! I felt overwhelmed just thinking about the sadness, the bereavement and the pain that is prevailing. What do you say? What can you say when everyone seems to be mourning? I’m at a loss for words - but I do know that there is a WORD of comfort in God’s WORD! David cries out in Psalm 61:1-2 “Hear my cry, O, God, attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee. When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” We have comfort to know that God will hear our prayers, he hears our pain and our sorrow and He shall lead us to a rock - a rock of solace and safety - a rock that is higher than us! That rock is Jesus Christ - the only one that can comfort us when the words of others just don’t seem to ease the pain - even with all of their good intentions, they can’t take on our cares and our burdens. But God, in his loving, understanding way, told us to cast our cares upon Him for He careth for us. After the death of a loved one or friend - or as we watch the people we care about suffer through sickness, people are there for a moment. But soon they will leave to resume their lives and we will be left alone to face our emotions - to face our pain. God assures us that He is there with us in the darkness - He is with us when our tear-stained pillows are soaked with memories of those special to us. Only He can soothe our pain and usher peace into our bosom. Only He can lead us to a higher plain when our hearts are overwhelmed! I pray God’s blessings on each of you and to all who have and are experiencing pain for the loss of someone dear. May God’s peace and love overpower you when you feel overwhelmed and lead you to a place of rest and comfort knowing that He is always in control and that all things are continually working together for your good and His glory!