As I woke this morning, my heart and mind went straight to my sister and brother-in-law, who just lost their 25-year old son.  Honestly, I cannot fathom what they are going through – the pain and the hurt they are feeling.  But, I think it is even more than that…When we are separated from those we love and the things that we love the most, it is that separation that hurts so bad.  We can’t stand it!  It is so painful.  This feeling of separation is the reason I do not like to travel.  Separation is the reason why I hate my children being so far away.  Separation is the reason I did not like my husband to have to travel for his job.  Separation from those we love and the things that we love can literally break our hearts.

In 2 Kings 9:1-3; 17-28, God made Jehu the King of Israel.  This is a text about war and fighting and about how God makes happen, what God wants to happen.  However, if we were to read deeper into the text, the promises of God to the prophets are fulfilled.  For example, God said, “I swear I will repay you on this very plot of ground…” (v.26).  Ahaziah is thrown on the plot of ground in accordance with the word of God.  Even before Jesus came to the earth, God continually, over-and-over again, kept His promises.

I take God’s promises to heart.  I have no reason to not believe that what God says, God will do.  As I pray for my sister and brother-in-law to have peace, I began to realize how God knows what they are going through.  God lost His Son!  He gave His Son for the sake of the world!  God knows the pain of their hearts.  I believe that while Jesus was utterly in pain of being brutalized and beaten, He was more in pain of the separation He would have from His Father!  So, you see…Jesus knows what it feels like to be separated from the ones you love!  God knows what it feels like to lose your son!  And what does Jesus do?  Jesus suffers separation from His own Father so that we will never ever have to be separated from our beloved.

As a Christian, there are no good-byes.  We can believe in God’s promises that we will be together again.  Most importantly, we will never be separated from the love of God!  It is a peace that passes all of our understanding!

Let us pray…Gracious God, we pray for all those who are hurting from the loss of loved ones.  Help them Lord to remember that you understand their separation – Give them peace in your promises that they will be united.  This life is temporary – Eternity is forever.  We love you Lord Jesus.  Amen.