Doug Lyon
Senior Pastor
COMFORT
Since Shiloh suspended worship services and church activities a month ago due to COVID 19, I have conducted one funeral service and two graveside committals. In each instance, there was a small gathering of mourners, grieving the death of the loved one. On all three occasions, those who attended the event observed social distancing. There were no hugs, kisses, pats on the back, or any demonstration of physical contact to encourage those in sorrow. I can’t begin to tell you how difficult it was for me as a pastor to abstain from putting my arm around the widow’s shoulder and whispering a word of comfort to her.
So, if you must maintain a distance of six feet between you and others during the coronavirus pandemic, how can you express compassion and condolences?
In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul addresses believers whose loved ones had died. They were unsure of the departed’s participation in the Lord’s return. Paul answers their concerns in these words: “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words” (vv 14-18).
The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to comfort the Children of God in times of sorrow. Even though you may not embrace those who grieve, you can offer encouragement by reminding them of the comforting promises of God found in Scripture.