The following is an article by guest contributor (and my sister), Amy Harris. Thanks for sharing, Amy!
In a recent discussion while working toward ordination, a question was posed to me about what to tell parents whose children die or do not receive Divine Healing. Questions such as these are difficult to address, because they are often coming out of such heartbreak and disappointment. I think the unfortunately reality, though, is that each of us will be faced with such circumstances and will need to be prepared to answer those questions and minister to those individuals to the best of our abilities. I can only pray that the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with compassion, our minds with adequate scriptural references, and our mouths with words of comfort.
Much of my response is based on a personal experience. In 2010, my sister found out that she was having twins. At about 16 weeks into her pregnancy, it was discovered that her daughter was anencephalic and would not survive long (if at all) after birth. I can tell you that we all prayed a lot for divine healing. We prayed for a miracle right up to the delivery room doors. I want to share my sister’s words with you:
“From the time Carys was diagnosed, many people prayed for a miracle for her. They openly prayed for her healing; that she would be made whole. As it turned out, Carys was our miracle. She was perfectly made. God intentionally and lovingly created her. Those precious hours we spent with Carys after she was born gave us a glimpse into Heaven. Though I didn’t see it with my physical eyes, the peace and love we felt and knew while she was in our arms were unmistakable. Heaven felt so real and so close, it was as if we could reach out and touch it. Even when Carys left this earth, she didn’t feel very far away.” (Kitchen)
“Now we see only a dim likeness of things. It is as if we were seeing them in a mirror. But someday we will see clearly. We will see face to face. What I know now is not complete. But someday I will know completely, just as God knows me completely.” (1 Corinthians 13:12 NIrV)
Honestly, I don’t see how a non-believer manages without the promise of Heaven. I don’t think that anything we could possibly say will answer their questions or even begin to take away their pain. I would make it my goal to share some assurances with them. I will say that from all that I have heard, telling anyone that their loss is part of God’s plan will probably only bring them more pain (at least in the initial stages)
1. Encourage them to talk to God, and then tell them that it ok to ask God why, and even to question his plan
“When you look for me with all your heart, you will find me.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIrV)“Come to me, all of you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NIrV)
“Godly people cry out, and the Lord hears them. He saves them from all of their troubles. The Lord is close to those whose hearts have been broken. He saves those whose spirits have been crushed.” (Psalms 34:17-18 NIrV)
“Now we see only a dim likeness of things. It is as if we were seeing them in a mirror. But someday we will see clearly. We will see face to face. What I know now is not complete. But someday I will know completely, just as God knows me completely.” (1 Corinthians 13:12 NIrV)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. Trust in me also. There are many rooms in my Father’s house. If this were not true, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. If I go and do that, I will come back. And I will take you to be with me. Then you will also be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:1-4 NIrV)
Kitchen, Keri. “Our Story” Web blog post. Aftertherainn. (Original Post Date unknown). 10 Oct 2014 http://ourstory.aftertherainn.com/
New International Readers Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 11 Oct. 2014