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When Your World Falls Apart

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Updated: Aug 30, 2023

I just started reading a book by Dr. David Jeremiah, entitled "When Your World Falls Apart: Seeing Past the Pain of the Present." Like me, he gets blindsided by a Lymphoma diagnosis at age 53-- the same age I am now. And then he comes across this quote, by Warren Wiersbe:


When God permits His children to go through the furnace, He keeps his eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat. His loving heart knows how much and how long (I Peter 1:6-7.)


Later on, Dr. Jeremiah writes,


"Somewhere along your own path, you've likely encountered a bend in the road too. Suddenly, you face circumstances you never expected to encounter. I hope you've found it helpful, as I have, to read encouraging words from fellow strugglers."


And really, that's where I come in. As your fellow struggler. Everyone has struggles. Personal friends of mine are going through Divorce right now, recent death of a spouse, their new-born babies in in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, kids with addiction, terminal illness, Chemotherapy, job loss, and estrangement from loved ones. Some of us are just plain lonely. Everyone has struggles. I am sharing my own struggles with you right now (well, just SOME of them- Ha ha!), so you can know that you're not alone. Nobody has lives that are Instagram Perfect. Nobody. It's just filters! But I am trying to be real with you. In hopes that it's a help. That you will reach out to me when you need a friend. Romans 12:15 instructs us,


Rejoice with those who rejoice,

weep with those who weep..."


Sometimes, the tears just come. I feel that one of my cancer symptoms is that waves of emotions are amplified. They are much nearer the surface then at other times, and I cry more readily. Often (usually? especially?) at church. Some people need to be comforted when they are weeping, others just need to cry it out. I am usually in the latter category. My friends know to come and hug me, hand me a tissue, and walk away. Because all is well. Ecclesiastes 7:3 (quoted from The Message tells us:


Crying is better than laughing.

It blotches the face, but scours the heart.


And Psalm 30:5 tells us:


Weeping may remain for the night,

but joy comes in the morning.


A Cancer buddy shared recently about crying in church, and I felt that! Sometimes, you just have to let it all out. It's release, and oh so helpful. It CAN be a sign of something wrong. Something that needs comforting. Something that needs fixing. But at other times, tears are a sign of God's presence. Of his dealings with us. Joel 2: 12-14 tells us:


"Even now," declares the LORD, "Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."


Rend your heart, and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.

Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing-- grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God.


and it continues on in verses 17:


Let the priests who minister before the LORD weep between the temple porch and the alter. Let them say, "Spare your people, O LORD.


Some time ago, we had some special meetings at our church, led by evangelist Timothy McCain and his wife Madia https://www.tmmonline.org . The church was full of weeping in the presence of God. Mr. McCain had a message for us, the Word of the Lord, but he had the spiritual good sense to just wait while God was moving. And that was comforting to me. God was there, and His presence was manifesting through the tears. It was a sweet time- a precious time with God for our congregation as the tears flowed.


And so my friends, if you need to weep, then weep. Let it all out. And if you want somebody to talk stuff over with, reach out. I am here for you. Maybe we can weep together!


"Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted."

-Matthew 5: 4




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Dylan Stafford
Dylan Stafford
22 abr 2023

Thanks for not going through this alone Pete, for bringing us into the journey with you, even a tiny bit.

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