My grandfather’s favorite Bible passage… ^“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Psalm 23:1-8 – KJV) 

 Some old friends of mine have suffered just a crazy amount of loss in their lives. Much more than most people will ever have to bear.

And I know from knowing them all these years that that much loss just isn’t fair.

This past week, I learned of more loss in my friend’s lives and I just wept over the news. I cried, I screamed, I shook my fist in the air and asked God ‘Why?’ over and over again. I can’ t understand it. I can’t comprehend it. I can’t make sense of it. These people have been through enough. I kept saying to God ’Enough with the loss, let them have joy. Enough of the pain, let them celebrate. Enough of the tears, let them laugh. Enough God!’

Because this much loss in one family’s life just isn’t fair. And I was angry and sad and bitter for them. I can’t wrap my mind around it. I can’t make sense of it.

But in the middle of my thoughts, came the voice of God through Psalm 23. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For Thine art with me. They aren’t walking this road of loss alone. He is with them, walking with them, comforting them. 

And somehow, even in the middle of my bitterness and anger, I felt comforted, too because I knew that they were being comforted through it.

Sometimes loss just isn’t fair and it can’t be explained away and it doesn’t make sense and it can’t be reasoned with. It just simply is what it is. And it’s sad and bitter and hard. But God is still in the middle of it. And He’s still in control of it. And He still loves us through it.