Christ Binds Our Wounds

I was stunned by the verse on a baby's gravestone many years ago. "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." If ever a verse made an impact on me, it was this one. I was in deep grief over the loss of my own child at the time, and I could not imagine how anyone could be strong enough to put this verse on their child's gravestone. I knew it must have been put there to speak to the reader, and it certainly spoke to me.

Those parents must have had a powerful walk with God. I was not able to bless the name of the Lord at that time. I was sure that God understood this. Yet these grieving parents blessed His name. I'm certain that He blessed them for this gravestone message.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee, the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24,25,26

Being close to God floods our spirits with the purest peace. We can know that, just as a parent holds the hand of a toddler crossing a busy street, God is with us through dangers and fears.

The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalm 121:8

Just as a parent holds and comforts a child whose favorite toy has been broken, so our Heavenly Father holds us when we have lost a child, or someone else we love dearly.

... bind up the brokenhearted, ... comfort all that mourn ... Isaiah 61:parts of 1,2

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11