Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Yesterday I received a call that no one ever wants to get – a call that a loved one has passed away.
I knew that my uncle had been sick and I had been thinking about travelling to Pennsylvania to see him and my aunt. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance. It had been almost 15 years since I had seen him. The news of his death left me in a whirlwind of emotions. I was sad for everyone that loved him. I was feeling guilty because I was the one who had allowed time and distance to get in the way of our relationship. And I was regretful because I never got the chance to make amends.
You see, there was a period in my life when I was going through some difficult times that caused me to isolate myself from my family and shut everyone out. Sadly, once things had gotten better, I was too ashamed to reach back out.
Today, as I sat with my Bible, Psalm 34:18 came to mind. It is a verse that I had read and heard more than a dozen times, but today, it touched my heart differently.
God knew that my spirit was crushed from the shame, guilt and regret that I was feeling. However, through this verse, He was reminding me that not only was He there to bring peace to my heart but that He was also there to restore my hope. That while I could not recover the time I lost with my uncle; I could still work towards a better tomorrow and make amends with other family members. I closed my Bible and sat in silence for a while as wonderful memories of my uncle filled my heart.
I was so very grateful for the time that I did get to spend with him. And I was thankful that the last time I saw him, I was provided the opportunity to surprise him by making his favorite dessert – a pineapple upside down cake.
If you are dealing with a loss of a loved one, I pray that God provides you strength, peace, comfort, and healing. I pray that your heart is filled with loving memories and that you never forget that God is always with you in your time of need.
Welcome, I'm
Marisa
Claudine
Join me as I share with you my authentic and heart-warming conversations with Jesus and the percolating thoughts that bubble up from each talk I have with Him. I will share real life struggles, reflections on faith and the hope and comfort that is found in Jesus.
Love,
Marisa Claudine