Chris Dorner - The Aftermath
A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. ~Ecclesiastes 3:4
I am certain, that like me you have seen nothing but news about the pursuit and capture of Chris Dorner, and the distruction and disregard for life that he left in his wake. My prayers and deepest condolences go out to the families who suffered the loss of their loved ones.
What can we do in such a time, when we face the loss of ones dear to us, I believe that Soloman had this right in Ecc 3:4 when he said that there is an appropriate time to for eveything, now is a time to remember, to weap, to laugh, to mourn and then in due season a time that we learn to dance in the storm. I cannot speak to the anguish, nor of the loss of those who have been impacted by this great tragedy, but I can offer my prayers, my thougts for you and your families. I can tell you where I find comfort when I in the midsts of storms in my life.
I am encouraged to know when I am at my lowest point:
GOD WILL BLESS & COMFORT ME
When I am destroyed, when I mourn there is a God who will bless me and comfort me, He touch the very depths of my life to comfort me, He will send people to support me and to lift my head. I have learned to look for the comfort, look for the things that made the difference so that if I experience trouble again I can spot out the blessings, the comfort that is promissed in this verse:
Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
I am encouraged to know that when I am at my lowest point:
GOD IS NEAR ME AND WILL SAVE ME IN MY ANGUISH
The first thing I feel when things fall apart, I believe that is the enemy of my soul (Satan) trying to make me believe God wont help me. But I am encouraged that God is most near when I am broken, when I am empty, I am most blessed when I realize I need Him, when I need God, then it says He will draw near to me and raise me up from my brokeness. See the comfort I recieve in this verse comes from the fact that I recognize that no one else can identify in my unique situation but God can, and it says that He draws near to save me from my brokeness, see He wont allow me to be crushed but will raise me up from the ahses to make beauty out of ugliness...
Psalm 34:18 ESV
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
GOD WILL MEND MY BROKENESS AND HEAL MY WOUNDS
The problem with loss, pain or angusih is that we never will be exactly the same, we are left scared by the situation.
If it be the loss of a loved one, or some other tragedy we are changed so deeply by the pain of the loss; alone will never be the same. I do believe this, God can heal our brokeness, He can mend my wounds and beyond that He can work my tragidy, my loss, my brokeness to make me better, stronger. Not immediately, not all at once, but I believe that God will work even the worst of situations out for my good, whether it be by my testimony, of how he touched me in my greatest grief, or it be who He used me to touch the lives of others, I will be changed, I will be transformed, I will be blessed by the work of the testimony that He will give though the process.
Psalm 147:3 ESV
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds
Agian my heart goes out to all those who suffered loss in this situation and I pray that you recieve comfort, that God touches the deepest parts of your sould, that He guids you through the process of being healed.