Get Over It

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Rom 12:15 (NIV)
... a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NIV)

Your world has collapsed and been turned upside down. Life will never be the same again, and some friends seem to fade into the background as you struggle with the biggest crisis you have known, or will ever face. It can be the failing health of a spouse or loved one, or maybe a serious family upset. It can happen in a hospital room, or a court room. The end result may also be similar. The death of someone dearly loved, or the death of a relationship which you had literally invested your life, time, effort, health and heart in for many years. The affected people are allowed to ask the same question: “Why did God let this happen?” There is a raw honesty to that heart wrenching question, and one which I (already) know that God identifies with, recognises, and understands. He knows our frame, (As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed Ps 103:13) and that is our whole being; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Nothing surprises Him, even though it might shock us to the core.

There are those, perhaps well meaning people who will tell us to “get over it, and move on”. These folks do not live in our skins, so have no right to tell us how to manage our fears or cope with our doubts. There is only one person who has the right to do that, and we ignore Him at our peril. Life happens, and as has been described before, “bad things happen to good people”, so how do we move on? One thing is for sure, it is not quickly, and not without pain. That pain will be felt for some time to come, but not always seen or recognised, and will shadow us nevertheless.

So, when life hurts, and you are at an all time low, and the friends who think they know best say “get over it”, or “suck it up”, or as they say in Texas, “cowboy up”, try to smile, and ask again and again for more of God’s grace. For the already forgiven child of God, this is the best source of comfort, so lean heavily on God’s free grace, and with time and loving family and friends around you, time will start to ease your pain, and eventually our loving God will heal. It will be in His time, not ours, and certainly not with anyone who thinks you can just “get over it”. I pray for God’s healing for those who may need it today. Amen.