Never Alone

Bible Reading: Isaiah 53:1–9

This story may not be suitable for young or sensitive children.

Ellie groaned as she tossed and turned in her bed. In her dreams, she went back to the day her parents died. Ellie’s parents had been missionaries ever since she was a baby, and when she was eight, they were killed for being Christians. Images flashed through her head as she remembered the men breaking into their house. Ellie was hiding under her bed, trembling in fear. She listened as they broke down the door and ran through the house, yelling and destroying things. Then gunshots echoed through the house.

“No!” Ellie screamed as she sat up in her bed.

Grandma appeared in the doorway. “It’s okay, honey, I’m here. You were just having a nightmare,” she said as she sat down on the edge of the bed.

Ellie was sobbing and shaking. “I miss Mom and Dad so much! Why didn’t God protect them?”

Grandma drew Ellie into a hug. “I don’t know. What happened to your parents was horrible, and I don’t know God’s reasons for allowing it to happen. But I do know that, because your parents trusted in Jesus, they’re safe with Him now. And He’s promised that evil will not have the last word. That’s why He died for us—to save us from sin and evil and give us eternal life.”

Grandma wiped tears off her face and looked at Ellie. “I remember when my mother died. It hurt more than anything I had ever gone through before, but it helped me draw closer to Jesus and get to know Him in a deeper way. Through my grief, He reminded me how much He loves me and that He’ll always be with me.”

The minutes seemed to drag by as they both sat there. Ellie wiped the tears from her eyes. “Is it okay if I still miss them and cry once in a while?” she asked.

“Of course it is,” said Grandma. “You’ve had a terrible thing happen in your life, and Jesus knows you need time to heal and grieve. His Word tells us that He will carry us through our grief. You’re never alone.”

“Thanks, Grandma,” Ellie said as she hugged her grandma again. “I love you.” A few minutes later, Ellie drifted back to sleep. •Elena Ketner

How About You?

Are you struggling with grief? Have you experienced something terrible? Perhaps you feel so weighted down by sorrow and loss that you’re not sure how to carry on. You don’t have to go through it alone. Jesus, who suffered and died for us, gives us the strength to endure pain and suffering. Trust Him to be with you through this tough time. He will carry you!

Today’s Key Verse: Isaiah 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Jesus carries us through our grief