“Does Anyone Know Where the Love of God Goes?”

The Gospel is not a pat on the back for good people.

It is comfort for grieving people.

—David L. Halpern (thanks to Robin in Ohio for this quote)

Twists and turns.

Surprises and disappointments.

Dizzying heights and thundering drops into the depths.

Our lives are like that.

Even though I frequently say that “There is so much to celebrate,” there are moments and days and even entire seasons of clouds, fog and darkness.

“Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?” asks a Gordon Lightfoot song about deaths in a storm.

Let’s be honest: I’ve asked questions like that and so have you.

Jesus promised us “The Comforter” (John 16:7, King James Version) when he promised us The Holy Spirit.

 Other translations use the title “The Helper” (English Standard Version) and “the Redeemer of the accursed” (Aramaic Bible in Plain English).

Grieving people need comfort, and in a stunning variety of ways God offers exactly that.

Sometimes through people just like us.

Sometimes through us.