When the Unexpected happens
Life has a way of throwing us curveballs, and sometimes they hit us so hard we are badly injured. I see an uptick in “unexpected events” over the past 3-4 years, and it is leaving people hurting and emotionally shattered. Control is a huge issue in regard to human nature and us wanting to KNOW what is going to happen next. The truth is that each day brings surprises; some good and some bad. Because things are always in a state of flux and ever-changing, one would think we would be used to it, but not so much.
I went through a period of time from November 2021 to June 2022 where ELEVEN of my closest friends and most beloved family members died. I lost 11 people in 8 months, including my brother and mother, 30 days apart…neither of those deaths was expected. NONE of the eleven losses were expected, so I had no time to plan, worry, or otherwise prepare myself for such personal grief and devastation. Then, to put an exclamation on it all, I suffered a major heart attack in June 2022. I am pretty sure it was just my broken heart actually breaking!
I remember talking to God after my niece (who was like a daughter to me) sustained what she thought was a minor head injury in her bathroom and then died 2 days later, completely without warning. The death in November was my best Air Force female buddy, who was also in the rare group of female Chiefs back in our day. I felt lost and was talking to God in January, telling Him that my grief felt so overwhelming that I didn’t know what to do. I said, “I don’t have any more shelves to store the grief.” Little did I know that my brother would be next, only 3 weeks after this “discussion,” then my mom, a month after him. I don’t remember the order of everyone else after that, I just remembered that I now needed a huge bookcase if I planned to STORE my grief.
It was at least 2 years later before I realized God was telling me “don’t store grief, GRIEVE through it and depend on Me to help you.” It is a lesson that many of us need to learn. Grief isn’t limited to the loss of people, either. It can be losing a pet, your job, your house, your marriage, your health, or your security. No matter what causes your grief, you become acutely aware that you have completely lost control, unexpected events are occurring, and there’s nothing you can do to stop them. However, there is something you can do to DEAL with these events; turn to God!
Psalm 18:2-3 “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." "I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies." [These verses express a deep trust in God as a source of strength and protection, emphasizing His role as a refuge and savior.]
Psalm 62:8 "Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge."
Proverbs 29:25 “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe."
The above scripture verses assure us that regardless of circumstances, God is our strength and protection, and He will help us through our pain and suffering. How do we capitalize on these promises? We go to Him and His Word first. We can run to people looking for salve to soothe our wounds, but people often say or do the exact opposite of what we need from them, making our wounds more painful. By immersing oneself into The Word, in prayer, and depending on God to give us the peace Jesus promised us, we can slowly heal and recover.
Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.”
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Reading and meditating on the “healing and peace” scriptures truly does bring peace beyond understanding. We don’t really understand how reading the Bible changes our feelings and helps us through unexpected events, but it does. They don’t call it the LIVING WORD for nothing. When God’s words permeate our souls, we do feel peace, comfort, understanding, and strength. Jesus told us over and over to expect the unexpected, but to LEAN into God when these things occur. He never told us to stand like a strong oak and shoulder the burdens of others while we are in deep mourning. He tells us to lean on Him and He will strengthen us!
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
We all face the unknown, and are thrust into unexpected situations that often times threaten to drown us. However, there is a LIFELINE, and that lifeline is found in the promises of God by spending time alone talking to Him, reading His word, and allowing yourself to find His strength in your weakness. We are not made to be strong all the time, nor are we expected to be a pillar of strength holding up everyone we know while we ignore our own need for comfort. Trust in God and let Him be your strength when those curveballs are thrown in your direction. Amen.
Blessing, prayers, and peace. With love, Lisa ><>
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