The Grief, Pain, and Sorrow of Holidays
Now Think On This
Steve Martin
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation." (Psalm 91:14-16, NKJV)
The winter Saturday had been rather long, though the daylight hours were shorter now. Our Dachshund dog woke me up at 3:00 am, needing to go out. After a time of Bible reading and prayer, I had to wait until 6:30 am to go to WalMart when they opened. I had forgotten my 20“x24” poster frame at the self-serve checkout counter the day before. (I know. How can you forget an item that big when you leave? Don’t know. I just did.)
Long-time-no-see nephew and niece-in-law came by the house a few hours later, after picking up their oldest daughter (of five girls, and one son) from the college campus dorm in a town nearby. With them having a full house, my childhood days helped realize a few of their days. We had a truly delightful time with them. All eight. Their husband/dad had just gotten home from his fourth or fifth tour of duty the week before - Afghanistan (2x), Iraq (1) and Bosnia (1) over the years. So I guess that is four, unless I missed one. That I may have forgotten too.
Needing more photos frames for an idea I had made another trip to Walmart necessary (no advertising dollars for this plug given this way). By late afternoon I had completed my gift wrapping of 19 presents, fed the dog, ate the leftover chicken wings from a family Christmas party the night before, and told my good wife I needed to shut my eyes for a few minutes after she got home from her shopping.
Sitting in my regular prayer chair, I closed my eyes, anticipating a power nap. It didn’t happen.
This grief, pain and deep sorrow then came over me. I quickly realized it wasn’t any of my emotions coming to the surface, buried far below from days gone by. I had no reason to feel that, given the joy, peace, and love from God the Father in my life recently. Someone else was experiencing this.
This Holy Spirit word of knowledge, which often comes as a thought, word or emotion “out of nowhere”, was given to me to start interceding for another (or more). I knew not who, or where they were. They, at that moment, or within a few days prior or even forthcoming, were suffering from loss, and maybe exceptional rejection. Holy Spirit knew their need and knew I was available.
The holiday season wasn’t the joy, peace, and love that they wanted so bad to have too. And needed so much to experience. They were hurting.
Maybe a very close loved one had passed during this season in years gone by, or a spiteful rejection by a longtime friend left them clinging to any glimpse of hope they could grip onto, Possibly loneliness from not having family or friends nearby, as others did, was enveloping their spiritual being.
Whatever the reason, one of these events or another trauma was causing this very real moment in time hopelessness, helplessness, and gut-wrenching emotional pain. I could really sense it in my spirit, coming from Holy Spirit.
Praying in tongues was my immediate reaction. God the Father was reaching out to embrace this one, who was needing to now know of His longtime committed love for them. Whether they knew Him or not, He fully knew them and was there to bring comfort and healing balm to their soul.
Maybe this is you? Maybe it is a bad memory, an unresolved, rejected relationship lost; or a Christmas went wrong that you never, ever want to remember or experience again. Please know that our God knows, and is wanting to reach out to you, bringing His love, peace, and joy into your heart right now, right at this moment.
Here are the full Bible verses of Psalm 91 for you to read.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust."
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place,
no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation." (Psalm 91, NKJV)
I have known deep loss. I have suffered rejection by ones who once called me their good friend. I am sure you have too.
You can be healed from this. You can forgive, and also receive forgiveness for anything on your end. It is not the end of the world. It can be the new beginning, whether you or 22 or 72.
May my prayer, and others so led and directed by Holy Spirit Himself, bring you the restoration and emotional surgery that you so long to acquire. May this be a true season of joy, peace, and love, as it was meant to be.
In Jesus, it certainly can.
Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).
Now think on this,
Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.
Also, I hope you get my latest book, Adventures in Courage, out this November. Paperback or Kindle versions. My 19th authored publication. (Yes, this is an advertisement!) Still time before Christmas! Buy here on Amazon: Adventures in Courage
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Now Think On This #376 - in the year of our Lord 12.15.18 – “The Grief, Pain, and Sorrow of Holidays” Saturday 6:30 pm
