Ding. I looked down at the text that had just come in from my daughter.

“I need you to pray. Tiffany’s mom flipped their four wheeler into the pond with Tiffany’s niece and nephew. They are on the way to Erlanger”.

I’ll never forget the impact of those words, it was as if someone had punched me in the stomach and knocked the wind out of me. Waves of nausea washed over me. My ears began to ring and my vision went dark, I thought I was going to pass out.

Still gasping for air I dropped to my knees and began to pray but words eluded me. I heard a sound I didn’t recognize. There it was again. I’m still not sure whether it was an audible sound or that I simply heard it in my spirit, a groaning that seemed to come from my heart. All I could eek out was ” Oh God!”

As I pressed into my prayer the words finally came. They trickled out at first but before long they fell over the edge of my lips like a waterfall.

God may your peace envelop them

Remind them of Your truth

Guide the doctors

God may their faith remain strong

Strengthen them according to Your Word …

Ding. Another text came in. This time I was hesitant to read it. I just knew deep down …

“No one made it”

As word got out and the body began to absorb the news and come together to minister to the family I found my response was not uncommon.

Person after person told of being weighed down with an incredible mantel of grief that nearly crushed the very breath out of them.

Heaven was being bombarded with the intercessory prayers of the saints, begging for mercy, peace and comfort for those who are left behind. Sometimes with words, sometimes with deep, deep groaning.

A community of believers, each one Jesus with skin on to those who need to see God’s love manifested in a very tangible way. A love that snaked its way through the funeral home and spilled out into the parking lot, not minding the 2 1/2 hour wait to be shed abroad into the hearts of a family suffering such an unimaginable loss.

A fellowship of suffering by nearly 1200, groaning under mantles of mourning they still carried,  took the time to attend a memorial service in the middle of the day, to show the family how much God loves them. God’s love embraced the family and drew them close.

It was a time to celebrate life, eternal life. Life that doesn’t end – life that simply changes clothes.  Renee stepped out of her “earth suit” and is now clothed in righteousness.

The Pastor’s words were medicinal and the praise and worship was a soothing balm. Breathing became less labored. The groans began to morph into an amazing melody, almost angelic.

And this song came to mind describing what was happening so well

Mourning into Dancing

(click title to listen to song)

Where there once

Was only hurt

He gave His healing hand

Where there once

Was only pain

He brought comfort

Like a friend

I feel the sweetness

Of His love

Piercing my darkness

I see the bright

And morning sun

As it ushers in

His joyful gladness

You’ve turned my mourning

Into dancing again

You’ve lifted my sorrows

And I can’t stay silent

I must sing

For Your joy has come

Your anger lasts

For a moment in time

But Your favor is here

And will be on me for

All all my lifetime

© 1992 Integrity’s Praise! Music     Words and Music by Tommy Walker

 

A community came together to minister to the family. They had been carrying their grief for four days, nearly smothering under the oppressiveness of it. But in God’s perfect time He gave His healing hand to those not family who needed Him to lift their sorrow.

There was a oneness of Spirit from the beginning to the end of the service. A single mind. Focused on one thing. That unity of Spirit encircled the body drawing them together into one, single minded entity.

The weight of the mantle was lifted by His love piercing the darkness and His healing hand brought comfort to those not family. They began to see the morning sun usher in His joyful gladness once again!

It’s not that they don’t remember the hurt of the family, they do and they continue to pray for them. But the oppressive weight has been lifted, their sorrows have been lifted so that they can sing of what He has done!

Mourning turned into joy!

The family, having been given those days of grace, will now be able to mourn without being crushed in Spirit. They too will experience God’s healing hand, they will be comforted and His love will pierce their darkness and usher in His joyful gladness.

He will turn their mourning into dancing again! They will not be able to stay silent, they will shout and make Him known and we will know that His joy has come!

Now I know even more deeply what it means to weep with those who weep.

Could it be in that weeping and carrying the mantle of mourning we are allowing those who are suffering to “breathe” and take care of business until the time comes that they are taken by the hand by the God of all comfort to walk them through – Piercing their darkness with His love healing their broken hearts turning their mourning into joy again!