Do not let your hearts be troubled John 14:1

It’s been a hard week of losses. On Tuesday our oldest daughter called to tell us her husband’s younger brother had died suddenly during the night. He had not been well since a car accident, but no one was prepared for this. Ryan was only 40. Wednesday I visited at the care center in McCall and was told that a resident I’d been seeing was ”on his way out” –  and I should stop in. As I entered his room I realized he was near death. I’d grown very fond of Brian during my visits and had seen him just the prior week. How could he have gone downhill so quickly? Then early Thursday morning another phone call came. One of my oldest and dearest friends in Boise had passed away from cancer. Her husband was still in shock. So were we.

I felt overwhelmed by the avalanche of tragedies. It was difficult to sort out priorities. For whom was I even grieving? For those who had passed on or for Brian barely hanging on? For all their distraught families? Dan and I were reeling by the end o the week. I wanted to shout, “OK, God, that’s enough for right now. “ I needed time out.

I believe we grieve much because we love much. When a loved one dies, the emotional place he or she had occupied in our hearts is emptied out. We’re left with a hole instead of a person. How can this be? How can Ryan or Brian or Judy no longer be here, be part of my life? The loss is painful and real. Like a hurt child running into a mother’s arms, we seek comfort and solace in our grief.

Jesus understood grief. His compassionate spirit was always moved by another’s  anguish. As Jesus moved closer toward the cross, he knew how devastated and lonely his disciples would feel after his death and so he prepared his disciples for his departure from them.  He told them not only that he was going away but warned that they cannot follow him. Peter is the first to protest. Never Lord. Not me. Thomas, Phillip and Judas question Jesus’ words. Why can’t we go with you? They want answers. None of the disciples can imagine being without their rabbi. How patiently and kindly Jesus must have listened to his friends. In the Fourteenth Chapter of John, Jesus consoles them ,  a father reassuring his fretful children.

 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:3

“I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.” John 14:18

He will not leave them alone. Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to console them in their grief. Jesus, their Wonderful Counselor prophesied by Isaiah would no longer be with them physically, but he would send Another. The Paracletos would console, counsel, remind, strengthen and empower them. The Holy Spirit would fill their hearts to overflowing and pour out into the world.

 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. John 14:16

“All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John:14:25-27

This week I grieve losing friends even as I contemplate the many losses which will surely come in the future. My heart is heavy, just like the disciples were. Who can refill the empty spaces of love? Whom shall I invite in? There is only one who knocks at the heart’s door. If Jesus loved the disciples so much that He promised the Comforter to help them, He loves us equally and consoles us with the same promises. The Holy Spirit already abides in the reborn soul waiting to pour out   Jesus’  love into our grief.

But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:17

We love and we lose those we love, but the Holy Spirit is ever near, closer than our loved ones were. Where the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit abide, there are no orphans.