A family member from another state called me recently.
Her heart was heavy for an elderly loved one who was suffering from physical
ailments. She needed a listening ear and a comforting prayer. I gladly gave
both.
Before we hung up, I found myself adding: “I know it is painful to watch a loved one
suffer. It can be easy to get angry with God for allowing it. But we need to
remember that their suffering can be used for good. It can actually be for the
benefit of others.”
In my cousin’s case, her loved one was a very strong
Christian who gave his entire adult life to serving Christ. But if you have a
loved one who you aren’t sure is a born again Christian, and who appears to be uncommunicative
or comatose, don’t stop praying for them. God is able to do exceedingly,
abundantly above and beyond all we dare to hope or think (Ephesians 3:20-21).
Nothing is too hard for God. He can, and does, speak to those who can’t speak
to us; give visions to those who cannot see us, all in order to reveal Himself and
His love for them.
Keep praying for those who love the ill one, too, who
are standing vigil and are hurting. What looks like “lingering” or the “prolonging”
of death, is actually precious time that can be used by God to nudge family
members/loved ones to pause and think about death and the afterlife—to seek
Him. It is all part of His divine plan. And sometimes, it can be the only way
to get a lost person to stop long enough in their hurried life to think about
the afterlife.
When a death seems delayed (in our opinion), we need
to remember God is still in control. As Christians, we will leave this earth at
our appointed time—when our mansion is ready. In the meantime, keep trusting
the One in control.
“Do
not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My
Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that
I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you
also may be where I am.”
(John 14:1-3)
