4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
The nurse called, “Mitchell family.” I jumped up from the hard bench I had been sleeping on and said, “Yes.”
She said coldly, “No!” and shook her head negatively.
That was the most deflating, agonizing word I’d ever heard. Just
“No,” not “I’m so sorry” or a tender look or compassionate hug.
Just “No.” And there was no one to turn to.
I knew Mother was gone. My father was sleeping on the other side of the waiting room. It was my responsibility to wake him and inform him his wife did not survive the heart attack.
When my sister and her husband arrived my father said, “Let’s go into the chapel. He asked me to say a prayer for us.
Why pray?
I wanted to argue with God.
He gave me a verse when I got on the plane that day.
Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
My prayer was for mother to keep her mind on God, trust in Him and he would keep her in perfect peace.
I claimed that for my mother. I was trusting that she would be healed.
I believed God would heal her.
I wanted to argue with God, I did not want to lead my family in prayer. Pray for what? She was gone.
Instead of arguing I had to trust. Trust that God would help us walk through this valley of the shadow of death, that he would be with us and comfort us.
Although my mother died thirty-three years ago, I can still feel the agonizing pain of loss. The blur of visitation, funeral and the empty feeling at her graveside. Over the years, the loneliness of not being able to share joys and hurts with her is a walk through that valley.
Are you walking in the shadow of the valley of death?
It is ok to argue with God? Absolutely!
He wants us to be honest with him. His heart is to be with us and comfort. The rod and staff pictured in Psalm 23:4 are of the shepherd guiding and protecting his sheep.
You will never get over this – but you will get through it.
We can not fear because God is with us. He will guide and protect his sheep.
Death cannot separate us from the love of God.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39