Today - with Gloria Brintnall

Let’s talk about what most people rarely talk about.

My mother is 91 years old. She has been confined to bed for over a year. The day is approaching when her spirit will peacefully slip out of her body and walk through a door that some refer to as “the pearly gates.” What those who remain call, “death” is just “walking through a door” for the one experiencing it. It’s a part of life. In Disney’s “Lion King” movie, it became known as “The circle of life.”

If “death” (I much prefer the term “passing” because that’s really what it is) is such a part of life, why is it so rarely discussed? People talk about getting married, having babies, career challenges, raising children, retirement, but this part of life is rarely dealt with until it slaps one in the face with the sting of grief.

If you live long enough, you will experience a genuine life crisis that causes grief. Grief is keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss; sharp sorrow, painful regret. It can hit in several ways.

I don’t mean to be a “negative Nellie” today. My intention is to give you hope to help you through those periods of loss. It affects people at different times in different ways. It might be

·      A doctor’s diagnosis that includes the word, “terminal”

·      A meeting that results in your removal from a job or position in ministry

·      A discovery that your spouse or child is addicted to drugs or pornography

·      A confession that your spouse has been unfaithful

·      A knock on the door or an emergency phone call that begins, “There’s been an accident….”

·      A final moment near the bedside of a spouse, a child, or a parent

You may be going through something like this today; you may have gone through it, but you’re not sure you’re completely whole, or you may one day go through something that causes grief. It happens.

Everything is moving along nicely in your life, and then suddenly-everything changes!

Suddenlies in life can be positive. I often preach a message on “Preparing for Your Suddenlies.” ”Prepare for God to do something wonderful in your life; it will happen suddenly. God operates suddenly, but not unexpectedly. You must expect Him to move…. God will do it, but you must believe and prepare!”  That’s the good stuff.

But “suddenlies” can also be negative, and you should be prepared to handle those as well!

This is so close to my heart, so important, and there is so much to share that we will be looking at this topic over several posts. This is the first of a blog series that I am calling, “Mourning at Night-Joy in the Morning-How to Stay Spiritually Strong through Personal Crisis or Loss.”

Let’s be honest. Let’s talk about the hard stuff. Let’s deal with and prepare so that when those negative “suddenlies” happen, our faith is not destroyed.

The honest truth is this- Grief can affect belief.

Look at Mark 16:10-11…. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

On “Easter” morning (the morning of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead) Mary ran to tell the disciples, “Jesus is risen,” but they were so overwhelmed with grief that they couldn’t believe!

Jesus told the disciples that in this life we would have troubles, but to be of good cheer for He has overcome the world. (John 16:33) Still, their grief kept them from experiencing the joy of that resurrection morning!

Let’s talk about how you can go from mourning at night to joy in the morning. Trust me-it IS possible-even in the most difficult circumstances.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

Share this blog. Get people connected. I know it will help them get through difficult times. Stay tuned for part 2 of this series. Until next time-do something today to fulfill your purpose.