Immense, Intense and Durable

The suffering of a sudden death is immense. All grief is immense. I think the immensity is related to the value of each human being. I think the intensity of the grief is related to the exact intensity of parenting. As a parent, you are very busy with everyday needs and also you are striving to mold the child’s character for a long full life so every activity has broad and enduring consequences or potential. The job of raising a child is intense and so is the grief. I think the duration of grief is related to all the responsibilities of being a parent and all the hope and dreams you had for your child. So everyday there are reminders of what will never be. Grief lasts a long time before you find a good functional equilibrium, and after that grief pops up from time to time because of some reminder or trigger.

Grief is immense, intense and durable.

God is more immense.  He is in all time and space and He is “for you.” He is intense. He is completely holy and can’t abide with anyone who is not holy – and none of us is qualified on that scale. Yet, He went all the way to the cross of execution because of His love for you. He wanted to have you in His eternal city so intensely that He paid a very high price to release you from the punishment you deserve for your actions against Him and His word. He is immense and intense.

And He is more than durable, He is eternal! Here is a passage from scripture that shows these characteristics:

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen Ephesians 3:17ff

God’s love for you is every bit as intense, immense and durable as your grief. Note: He is able to do more – more than you can imagine, even towards your healing, hoping and investing in life again after your immense loss. May you find comfort in the intensity of His love for you.