God will fight your battles …
I have a scripture and a song for the hard times. But first, a question for you: have you ever noticed the quiet hand of God moving in your life? I have. Sadly, I often miss it too, but that’s another blog post. I was gonna say I “missed” it, but the present tense is more accurate. God is always at work and we often miss what He’s doing. I found scriptures of comfort after death, but God also uses so many other things and people.
Before I share my comforting scriptures after a death, I’d like to share my thoughts on how you can get comforted when you’re grieving and I will finish with a specific example of how God showed up for me when I lost my brother.
God is so faithful!
All that said, God has shown me time and time again He’s always near and always at work when trouble is visiting me…whether I am aware of it or not.
For sure, trouble doesn’t always pass me by. It visits. When it does, it lingers and it hurts me just as much as it does others. During those times, I sometimes feel alone in the struggle. I question so many areas of my life, my service, and my worth.
After losing most of my family, I remember saying “But God! I’ve served you. Why did you allow all this pain?” During that time, I was in a very legalistic congregation that focused on being “holy” and doing “things” like not wearing pants, makeup, etc. I somehow thought my “actions” or doing the “right things” meant I wouldn’t struggle. How silly I was all those years ago.
Pain happens. We lost people we lost to illness, crime, and a host of other things. That’s just the way life is.
“…Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
Pain happens. Grief happens.. to us all.
It helps me to shift my focus from my hurt to my God. Yes, I’ve learned to look for His hand of protection and comfort in the heat of my struggles. You know what, He’s never failed me during those times.
Yes! I turned to the scriptures to comfort me
after death and God did even more!
For example, when my oldest brother, Keith, died suddenly, I was absolutely devastated.
As the oldest brother, he was my adviser and my confidant. In a lot of ways, he filled the void my dad left when he died. I think he did that intentionally. With him gone, I felt lost and alone. I felt abandoned.
It was a horrible time.
Seeing the intense grief my mother endured was difficult enough, but the personal loss I felt was excruciating and numbing. The grief was so sharp, that I couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t sleep. I wouldn’t eat. The pain seemed to be floating around the room like a heavy mist drowning me in the heaviness of loss.
Few knew about my intense struggle. Why? Because my identity in the family was that of being the “strong one”, which meant I couldn’t really grieve.
There was too much to handle to grieve myself. After all, I had to look after mom, I had flight arrangements to make, and I had a kid to think about. I had to make sure everyone else was ok.
*sigh*
Have you been there? Do you know what I mean? Are you the “one” everyone relies on during troubling times? If so, you know EXACTLY what I mean.
Jesus comforted me in a very special way.
I know this may sound strange or “spooky wooky” to some, but I don’t care it does; because it is one of the most cherished blessings of my life so I’m going to share it.
During that horribly sad season of grief, the Lord met me where I was and gave me what I needed every step of the way. He did it in two specific ways.
First, He gave me the gift of fresh worship each new day. Seriously!
Every day following the funeral, the Holy Spirit would drop a new song of praise into my tired, dismal spirit. Some days the song was an old hymn from my childhood. Other days, the songs were more contemporary and worshipful. I would literally wake up and before my feet hit the floor a fresh song was welling in my spirit. It was amazing! I
What made this even more astonishing is I’m not a musical person by any means. Songs don’t just “come” to me. Never! I don’t relate to music as some people do. Not sure why God chose that medium to touch my life at that time, but He did.
God uses the radio too?
Here is the second way God just leaned out of heaven and supported me during that time. He used a radio!!! Yep, an old-school radio!
I vividly remember one day in particular, while driving on the highway, a wave of grief overcame me. The person I usually turn to when I was confused, hurting, or lost was the very person I was grieving. I could barely see the road for the burning tears welling in my eyes.
Trying to distract myself, I turned on the local Gospel radio station in my city, KPRT. Yolanda Adams’ old song “The Battle is Not Yours” was airing. It helped so much. It gave me permission, if you will, to hand my depression battle to the Lord. I sort of leaned into it, knowing the battle of depression wasn’t mine. God would make sure I didn’t go too far or hurt too long.
Before that encounter, I was beginning to become “stuck” in my heartache. But, after that song, I felt instant consolation.
I exhaled.
I felt better.
Next, I pushed the radio button for my normal station (KLJC). This station is an entirely different “flavor” than KPRT. KLJC is more of a …well, White station. But, I love the clear worship and listen often. Don’t judge me. You do you! Worship is worship.
Back to my story. 🙂
I pushed the button and guess what! The song “The Battle Is Not Yours” immediately started playing!!!
God can comfort with scriptures but, He’s not limited to that!
I was floored! I couldn’t believe that song came on that station! You didn’t hear Gospel music on there EVER!
Plus, I just couldn’t believe the song came on AGAIN! God ministered to my soul through not only that song, but also that experience.
His aggressive message to me was that I needed to just take each day and each moment one increment at a time. God would finish the battle for my joy and restore my peace. I can assuredly tell you…HE DID!
Christian woman, look for His hand in your life today. Watch for His movement. I promise you He is.
He is with you, Christian woman.
I don’t care whether you’re battling marriage troubles, kid troubles, work troubles, or health problems.
He’s there. His comfort is surrounding you and the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised will guide you and comfort you (John 14:16):
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—“
God loves you so much and will “floor” you too with His faithfulness and presence.
When you hear this song,
you’ll see why the Lord used it!
The lyrics alone will confirm why He used this song to give me some encouragement:
There is no pain Jesus can’t feel, no hurt He cannot heal
All the things work according to His perfect will
No matter what you’re going through
Remember God is using You for the battle is not yours
It’s the Lord’s
There’s no sadness Jesus can’t feel
And there is no sorrow that He cannot heal
For all things work according to the Master’s holy will
No matter what you’re going through
Remember that God is only using You
For this battle is not yours, it’s the Lord’s
I think it’s written by V. Michael McKay
Listen here:
Now… time for the
scriptures of
comfort after death…
I’m telling you, Jesus has a long track record of being there when He is needed. Before I share my favorite scriptures of comfort after death, check out this reminder.
Also read: 2 Chronicles 20:1-29
(from Bible Gateway.com)
Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon
20 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites[a] came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.
2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom,[b] from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said:
“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
10 “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.
14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”
18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his[c] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.”
22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing[d] and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah[e] to this day.
27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.
29 The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.
Lyrics MetroLyrics
There is no pain Jesus can’t feel
No hurt He cannot heal
All things work according to His perfect will
No matter what you’re going through
Remember God is using You
For the battle is not yours, it’s the Lord’s
There’s no sadness Jesus can’t feel
And there is no sorrow that He cannot heal
For all things work according to the Master’s holy will
No matter what you’re going through
Remember that God is only using You
For the battle is not yours, it’s the Lord’s
It’s the Lord’s, yes, it’s the Lord’s
Hold your head up high don’t you fright
It’s the Lord’s, it’s the Lord’s
Yes, it’s the Lord’s
So many people are hurting. Some need scriptures of comfort after death has visited them, others need encouragement for other reasons. Pin this to share.
Scriptures of comfort after death – some are my favorite.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4
(You can be happy, Christian woman because you will be comforted. Did you know “blessed” means happy?
You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
Psalm 30:11
(There is home, Christian woman! This won’t last always. It’s not forever. Hang in there.)
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phillipians 4:7
(God’s peace is gonna protect your heart from depression and hopelessness!)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
(He is the head of comfort; He is the Father of it. He gave birth to it. Why wouldn’t He comfort you?”)
13 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.
14 For 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.
15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 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.
17 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.
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Amen?
Update: If you want, please post your own favorite scriptures of comfort after death has happened. Maybe you can encourage someone who reads this. Why didn’t I think of that when I first posted this? Oh well, mark it to my head and not my heart. 🙂
