Losing Family

Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me. (Psalm 27:10, NIV)

Have you ever seen someone taking pictures or video at a funeral to send overseas? What about holding a service for someone who isn’t even there—who died far away on the other side of the world?

These are common experiences for refugees and immigrants whose families are divided between their old and new countries. Distance and political realities mean that one part of the family may not be able to attend a funeral—even for a mother or father. They rely on phone calls, videos, and pictures—sometimes even holding a second service to deal with the grief of losing people so far away.

Jesus understands this grief—and also the grief of those whose families still live, but they can rarely if ever afford to visit. It hurts when family bonds are broken. And so the Bible tells us, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” Whether our loss is due to death, distance, or even anger and estrangement, the Lord takes us into his care. He becomes father and mother to us; he comforts us and provides for us as good parents do. He does more—he lays down his life to protect us and rescue us from the power of the devil and all evil. We are his children now, and we will share in his resurrection.

Are you far from someone you love—either physically or emotionally? Do you know someone else who is experiencing this grief? Come to Jesus for help. He is the Lord who has promised to take us to himself, no longer strangers and aliens, but his own beloved family.

Dear Lord, please comfort all who have lost family they love. Help us to act as their loving family under you as we live in unity as believers in Jesus. Amen.

By Dr. Kari Vo