Does Jesus Care?
Often, in times of stress and grief and sorrow, a person is brought to a point of crucial self-examination, and if that person is a child of God, Jesus means more to him, perhaps, at that time, than at any other. Such a time (Eccl. 3:1-2, 4) began for my wife and me on Feb. 3rd, 1970.
The Vigil Laurie Rene DeVore was born at 1:57 A.M. on Feb. 3rd. Even though the doctor was evidently aware of some respiratory trouble, this was not made known to us for some time. While visiting my wife in the afternoon at the hospital, the nurses informed me of the problem, and suggested I stay awhile. And so we stayed, with many trips from my wife's room to the nursery and back, with prayer being made for the baby's recovery. Our vigil ended, and our prayers were answered about 8:00 P.M. when the spirit of Laurie Rene returned to Almighty God, her creator, and she passed from this life. Perhaps you ask, did we pray for the baby's death? No, we prayed that she might live (2 Sam. 12:16), but this time God answered our prayers with a firm no that our finite minds cannot comprehend nor understand. And so, after having dwelt upon God's footstool for about 18 hours, she left to be heavens very newest angel.
The Depth Of Grief
It may seem when a loved one departs this life that the grief one endures can have no end, and the wells of the heart overflow with immeasurable sadness which washes the face with tears of uncontrollable sorrow. We know she is safe with Jesus and that we have as one dear sister put it, "you have started a family in heaven;" and yet, the sorrow of loss and separation lingers on. Perhaps even more so for a mother; for a mother's unrequited love is a special kind of sorrow that must be borne alone. Does Jesus care? Yes, I know He cares. Peter says for us to cast "... all your care upon him; for He careth for you." I Peter 5:7. The hand of the Lord Jesus sustained us and lifted us up in our hours of sorrow. As the days and weeks go by, the tears are wiped away by the gentle hand of Jesus, and the sorrow welling up from the heart is turned into strength. Let me share with you some of the words of the song that is the title of this article.
Does Jesus care when I've tried and failed to resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief I find no relief, tho' my tears flow all the night long?
Does Jesus care when I've said "good-by" to the dearest on earth to me, And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks — is it aught to Him? Does He see?
0 Yes, He cares; I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares.
Strength
Out of the depths of grief, as the fountain of tears is dried up and the sorrowful heart begins to heal comes strength. A strength that can only come from above. I know not how the atheist is able to bear death with no help from above. As the late J. D. Tant said, "I am different from some men. Brother Jack McCarty says death softens him and makes him a better man. But... it makes me harder and more defiant all the time.... But Jesus recognized the devil, and not God, as being the author of death, and claimed that he came to destroy him who had the power of death, even the devil. I look upon death as forced upon me by my enemies. Jesus comes at death, not as a death angel, but as a guide to lead me through the valley of the shadow of death that I shall fear no evil."(J. D. Tant, Texas Preacher, pg. 85)
I believe that God gives us many valuable lessons through grief, and we can be better Christians than we have been heretofore. And because there is a Great Day coming the Christian looks forward in...
Hope
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." I Cor. 15:22. The child of God looks to the future in hope, realizing that there is a Day coming when all the sleeping chambers shall be opened, and we will be reunited with our loved ones. Death separates this world from eternity. David said, "1 shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." 2 Sam. 12:23. By living a life of faithfulness to the gospel we can one day dwell again with our loved ones, not just for a day or a few short years, but throughout all eternity!
Strength and hope are intertwined together. Because of our hope (the fervent desire and expectation of eternal life, I Jn. 2:25) we can find strength to continue to live for Jesus every day. This sin-cursed world holds many cares and sorrows, past, present, and future, but we look forward by faith to the time when we can dwell in that upper and better Kingdom, where God "shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away." Rev. 21:4.
I want to share with you a poem written by my wife's sister in memory of our baby.
A child will soon be due An extension of me and you
The Lord has blessed our lives with two And now another precious soul is due
The day has come, our child is born A whisp of life, but now we mourn
So small, so fragile, and now so still What could ever such a vacancy fill?
The wound is sore, the scars so deep But we must labor on as our little one sleeps
No time to waste, the Lord's will must be done We must bear our cross daily 'til the setting of the sun
Our little Laurie Rene is sadly missed But our comfort lies in knowing she's on the Lord's list.
— Julia A. Osborne
Why write this article? It is all that I can do. I cannot buy her shoes and dresses and food and kiss her and hold her; she has a Father who can do infinitely more for her than I. And so, I embrace her with my heart, and hope someday to go to her.
— 1802 Caroline St., South Bend, Indiana 46613