BY DAWN REED
If you are in our area this week, you will find us hugging a little more and holding hands a bit tighter.
Our whole community was rocked a few days ago when a treasured 12-year-old boy named Diesel took his life just before his 13th birthday. His brother is in my Sunday School class.
This is one of the most difficult times my beloved has been through as a pastor. Loved ones have passed from heart attacks, cancer, and car accidents, but this unexpected suicide has left the whole county reeling.
Questions swirl in our hearts and minds: Why? What could we have done differently? Were there signs we did not notice?
There was nothing. Diesel was a precious, joyful young man, always wearing a smile. He wore a “Jesus loves you” bracelet and posted about Jesus on social media.
So, we are talking about hard things this week. Instead of continuing our Sunday School study in the book of Acts, we focused on the difficult life of Joseph and on verses that tell us that, even when he was at rock bottom, the LORD was with him (Genesis 39:20). We looked at encouraging and comforting Bible verses to remember, carry, and share. You may know them.
Isaiah 43:2-3 is at the top of the list: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…”
It is good to know that our Heavenly Father is a “through” God. He will get us through the hard times.
In Psalm 18, David wrote of a difficult time: “The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.”
Verses 16 and 19 tell the Lord’s reaction: “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters…He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.” (Chokes me up every time.)
In this day and time, we can feel alone in a crowd. Isaiah 41:10 reminds us that we are not. Ever. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Life can be hard. Everybody is going through something. It is more important than ever to share the love of Jesus and have compassion.
Diesel’s family, friends, teachers, classmates, and the community have been laid low. At a community prayer service, my beloved handed out business cards to Diesel’s best friends.
“Please call me if you need to talk,” he told them.
Through tears they said they would. They plan on coming to church.
Of course, God sees all this. He still cares. He is still good.
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit,” Psalm 34:18.
We really need that right now.