Someone recently asked me, "What do I say to someone who has found out he is dying?" We often find ourselves in situations where someone has experienced a figurative kick in the gut. They have received some sort of bad news or experienced some great disappointment. What do we say to someone who is in the midst of the storm?
In reply to that question, I shared what I usually do and that is admit I don't know why. My prayer with a person who is dealing with a storm is usually something along these lines: I thank You God that You are in control. I admit to You that at this moment I don't understand why this is happening. I don't know why this individual or family is having to go through this situation. But I do know that You are still God. I know that You can do what is for the ultimate best and so I trust it all to You!
Too often, as ministers and as Christ followers, we want to have the answers. We want to give them the steps to get out of this situation. We want to give them a reason for the difficulties or problems they face. Just admit it: we don't know. We know that we live in a sinful world and part of that sinfulness means there is sickness and tragedy in the world and in our lives from time to time. But the truth is most of the time for God's people we just don't have the answer to why. And as a man recently reminded me in the midst of his illness, "That's when your faith kicks in!" That is when we truly experience the Good Portion as we surrender our everything over to Him and rest in His abiding love.
