Comfort in Life’s Dark Hour

Never have I been so glad that I had faith as when my husband died.
Oh, the comfort, the blessing, the peace in the hour of trial that those of us who believe can draw on. Many of the condolence cards that I received had messages based on this Bible verse: “We sorrow not as those that have no hope”—and that is so true!

When I was visiting my husband in the hospital, I talked with people who had no faith, who were standing by the bedsides of dying loved ones without any consolation or hope. I thank God for His wonderful plan of redemption that makes me know that I’m going to meet my husband again in a better place—a plan that was worked out in God’s mind from the foundation of the world, that though we die, we shall live again. I thank God, too, for the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and the third day arose so that we could do likewise. God gives a special dispensation of grace when we need it. We don’t have it beforehand, but when we come right up against what would otherwise be a time of severe heartbreak, there He is.

When my husband was sick, I would often sing to him, standing by his bed. I don’t have a beautiful voice, but the hymns were beautiful, and his favorite was a verse of “How Firm a Foundation.”

Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.
And when through deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow.

How God upheld me! I’ve seen that promise from His Word proven true once again. I came to deep water, but it did not overflow me.
You know, life isn’t complete without faith in God. He says that He came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. How true that is! It’s such an abundant life when we have faith.
When going through my husband’s things, I found this poem that he kept in his Bible.

Afraid?
Afraid? Of what?
To feel the spirit’s glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace,
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
Afraid to see the Savior’s face,
To hear His welcome, and to trace
The glory gleam from wounds of grace?
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
A flash—a crash—a pierced heart;
Brief darkness—Light— O heaven’s art!
A wound of His a counterpart!
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
To enter into heaven’s rest,
And yet to serve the Master blessed?
From service good to service best?
Afraid? Of that?
—E. H. Hamilton

My dear husband wasn’t afraid to move on, and if you have received Jesus as your Savior you won’t be afraid either, because you’ll know that He will be with you. Though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He says, “I will be with you.” He will be there to comfort you.
Never has God’s love proved so great, never His mercy so sure and His grace so abundant as during the week after my loss. I praise Him with all my heart for fulfilling His Word and for His faithfulness.

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1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NIV) Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

John 11:25-26 (NIV) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

1 Corinthians 15:4 (NIV) that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,