Dec 4 - Psalm 34:18

Recently a parent wrote, asking about how to speak to their children about grandma's illness and impending death. Over the next several days, I'm letting you "listen in" to my pastoral advice. So far we have covered the following pieces of advice: 1. Be Honest and Upfront,  2. Focus Forward,  3. Grieve Honestly, 4. Grieve with Bold Determination, 5. Understand Life, 6. Quit Denying

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;

he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

7

Praying works

I work with youth. Do you know what tends to be their first and second biggest faith crisis? (It can go in either order ...)

1. They engage in questionable behavior ... and they have to change their beliefs to match their new behavior (otherwise they feel bad about themselves and psychological it feels better to changer their beliefs than to feel bad about themselves).
2. Grandma dies.

Since we're talking this week about death, here's how the story usually goes.

• Grandma's sick.
• Granddaughter prays.
• Grandma eventually dies. (Even with prayer, Grandmas tend to die before granddaughters) 
• Granddaughter "learns" that prayer doesn't work.
• Granddaughter loses faith.

I've seen it over and over again.

Here's what you need to tell your kids -- and yourself -- in advance ...

The purpose of healing is not eternal life on earth. Think about it ... Even the people that Jesus himself healed didn't get to live forever on earth. (If they did, we'd see in the tabloids each week headlines like, "Leper that Jesus Healed is Dating Jennifer Anniston.")

Therefore, the purpose of healing is not life on earth ... it's faith in Jesus. Why? Because faith is the gateway to eternal life in heaven.

Do you get that?!

God has a better plan.

He doesn't want for us to live forever in this fallen, broken world! He wants us to live forever in a mansion with no more mourning, crying, or tears.

We will miss Grandma. Absolutely. Of course. But if we're honest, we don't want Grandma shakled eternally to her arthritis, we don't want Grandma to continually decline into dementia, and we certainly don't want Grandma to miss Grandpa and other loved ones who've gone on before her. Rather, we want Grandma to go and prepare a place for us -- just as Jesus has.

Therefore, if you know someone who's grieving, tell them, "Praying works!!!"

When we pray for someone we love who's teetering on the edge of death, what we are basically asking for in our prayers? "Lord, help Grandma live longer."

Guess what ... she will! Not here, of course. Not here, sadly, in our nearer presence. But God is inviting her -- and eventually us -- into a better world.

Yes, tell them that prayer works. Tell them that, "Lord, heal Grandma," is answered by God with, "In death, you are healed. You are young again. You are free."

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's presided over 100 deaths

and has come to know

that prayer definitely works!