Handling Illness & death - Lament is allowed

I post the following with the permission of a friend who was sharing her thoughts as we reflected on the late Rob Lacey.

"I didn't really know much about Rob Lacey other than his book, the word on the street, but I do feel quite affected by the news of his death.  Having read what's in the back of that book about some of what he had gone through, one can't help feeling what an incredible person of God he was....  It is right for us to rejoice when God heals, as was the case for a while for him as well, but at the same time, we are made to remember our lives here on earth are only limited part of God's greater plan, which we cannot understand now.  But that fact hits us sometime really hard, doesn't it, and I guess it is right that it does..."

It is the focus on it hitting us really hard... not so long ago...

... I had to deal with a  serious health issue which hangs over me as it could happen again, but at the moment I am enjoying good health. However, the experience never leaves me and all the issues surrounding it too.

Most people (from my experience) who haven't experienced serious or long term illness struggle to engage with some one who is enduring health problems. This can have both good and bad implications, it is nice to be treated normally when you are ill rather than as if you have become a two year old again but at the same time genuine empathy is needed too. For me some of the most disturbing reactions came from fellow Christians who simply could not cope with a lack of healing from prayer or blamed the illness on some unresolved sin. Now I do not want to get into the theology of faith healing in this post but rather make a more obvious point regarding awareness of our reactions to certain situations. I did however, also receive amazing friendship and support from fellow Christians too and as much as I would like to share some of the stories here, I cannot betray confidences.

If I were to try and sum up the thing that has stayed with me through illness (and premature bereavement of loved ones through illness) is that lament is OK, it is biblically founded, it is needed and and it is healthy.

If you are not convinced have a look at this book by Michael Card, A Sacred Sorrow.

Or better still have a look at the Psalms, 3-7; 25-28; 54-57; 139-43.

Answer me when I call to you,

O my righteous God.

Give me relief from my distress;

be merciful to me and hear my prayer. (Psalm4:1)