An Outpouring of Love

I have been so touched by the incredible outpouring of love everyone has shown us through this past week of grieving. An overwhelming amount of comments here, on facebook, private emails, phone calls, cards, hugs, gifts, offers of time, food, personal appearances, and most of all, prayers, have been given to us, and we are so grateful for each and every one of them. The arms of Christ have reached out and comforted us through all of you, and it has been a beautiful thing.

The funeral was yesterday, and it was, well, hard. I find myself still bewildered by it all - not in the questioning God kind of way, but more in the "is this REALLY happening?!" kind of way. It seems so unreal, and I know that now everything is settled, the time for a deeper mourning will come upon us. But God is faithful. One morning in particular I woke up feeling so helpless and weak in my grief, and at a loss for how to best comfort my husband, and the Lord gave me this verse:

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
Isaiah 40:28-31

The biggest comfort I have found through all of this is resting in the knowledge that in everything, even pain and loss - GOD IS GOOD. He is the Almighty, the one who suffers with us, the one who bears us up when we cannot bear ourselves, He is our strength in our ever present weakness. He has proven this over and over again through this week, through His comforting Spirit, and through His people who have reached out to offer everything they can. We are so blessed. Thanks be to Him, and to all of you, as well.