Just Sit There

Do you ever have one of those days…weeks maybe even months when you feel as if God has told you to just “sit there?”  I have been in the “sit there” season for a while.  I have found myself many days seeking God for an answer to my numerous prayers.  Many times, especially in our fast-paced society we think if we just ask, God is supposed to answer immediately.

John 14:13 says You can ask anything in my name, and I will do it, hold on… wait right there did Jesus just say just ask in his name and He will do it??  How many times have we ourselves, or even heard others pray and end their request in “Jesus name?” What happens when we ask that same request over and over and all we hear is silence.  The rest of that verse goes on to say because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. Yes, ask anything in my name and I will do it!

We are in the heat of the summer in Colorado.  The sun gets so intense and hot during the day where we live it becomes almost unbearable to spend much time outdoors.  One day last week we were running some errands in the afternoon and decided to stop at a local farm grower and buy some fresh vegetables. I had recently seen their ad and had never been there before and wanted to check it out.

As we walked in we were greeted by the owner.  He was very friendly and shared with us about their farm and the history behind it.  With tears in his eyes, he then began to tell us his son had passed away in May.  “This farm was his dream,” he told us.  He had an incurable disease that unexpectedly took his life at the young age of thirty.  My heart hurt so bad for him as we listened to all the wonderful things he shared with us about his son. I couldn’t control the tears rolling down my face.  He then looked at me, apologized and said: “I am sorry, I made you cry.  I don’t know why I am telling you all of this, I don’t usually do that.”

He didn’t know me or know of the losses I have suffered in my life.  I shared with him about my loss of Nick fifteen years ago.  He looked at me with tears in his eyes and spoke softly these words, ‘You know my pain.”

Anyone who has gone through this tragic journey of losing a child knows exactly what those words “you know my pain” mean.  If you are like me you never want another person to feel that deep darkness and despair or your life is shattered and is spiraling out of control.

I have learned through the years to stop and just listen to these parents who are so fresh and raw in their grief. The grim reality of finding themselves in a place of hopelessness and inconsolable. There really are no words that can make it any easier for them.  All I know to do is to comfort them in the same way I was comforted.

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.  When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us~ 2 Corinthians 1:4

He then asked, Does it ever stop hurting, do you ever get over it? I replied, No… somewhere along the way, I’ve learned you just do the day.  You never get over it, you somehow just get through it. I once read somewhere a response to that question….I don’t know if it ever stops hurting but when it does I’ll let you know.

As we were leaving I asked how his wife was doing.  “She has good days and bad days like myself. We lift each other up as much as we can.”  He then looked at me and said: “She wants to make this the biggest and best farm to honor our son’s memory.”  I thought to myself they don’t realize it but they have already stepped into their journey of healing.  They have found a purpose and a mission out of their pain and suffering.

So as I am “just sitting here” today I know that God answered one of my prayers when he sent me through the gates of that farm not knowing what pain was waiting on the other side.

Was God glorified that day? With the help of the Holy Spirit and the best of my ability you betcha!

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.  He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God ~ Ephesians 5:2