Just Pray ... As Life Goes On

It was this time last week that I "accidentally" stumbled upon the tragic news about Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter. I logged into one of my favourite "cosy" places online and there a friend had shared a link to the story. I don't know Steven Curtis Chapman personally (I mean ... I don't know him and he doesn't know I exist, but his music and lyrics fill my parents' kitchen for some time, six days out of seven!), but when I read the news ...

I felt devastated ... and then I felt overwhelmed by the reality that the devastation I felt on hearing of the death of a child I didn't know was nothing compared to the devastation the child's parents, siblings and friends must be experiencing.

Between this time last week and this time this week, lots of people have been praying for Steven Curtis Chapman and his family. I have been. And maybe some of you who read my blog have been. And ... you can read the story. You can share your condolences. You can join a Facebook group.

But ... ultimately ... life goes on.

So ... I guess I want to say ... keep praying for Steven Curtis Chapman and his family. For them, a new journey has only just begun. I believe that God, who knows the plans - "for good and not for evil" - He has for each member of the Chapman family in heaven and on earth, will be strong for the family and will walk with each of them every step of the way.

But ... speaking as one who has experienced grief (though nothing like the Chapman family is experiencing) ... it's hard when life goes on and everyone ... well ... sort of forgets. Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife and children need our prayers for as long as we can remember them and remember that life goes on, but broken hearts don't mend as fast as life goes on. And prayers help.

Can God support Steven Curtis Chapman and his family without my prayers ... without your prayers? Absolutely. But one of the many ways God may choose to support the Chapman family is through prayers. Prayers of people like me ... like you ... who don't know them, but share their faith in the God who "heals and rescues and restores" and care enough to remember them and ask Him to heal and rescue and restore their broken hearts.

While I was out and driving around in the van today, I was listening to Declaration ... comprised of songs that are so familiar - Live Out Loud, God is God, Magnificent Obsession and Carry You to Jesus. Remember the words?

I will not pretend to feel the pain you’re going through
I know I cannot comprehend the hurt you’ve known
And I used to think it mattered if I understood
But now I just don’t know

Well, I’ll admit sometimes I still wish I knew what to say
And I keep looking for a way to fix it all
But we know we’re at the mercy of God’s higher ways
And our ways are so small

But I will carry you to Jesus
He is everything you need
I will carry you to Jesus on my knees

There's more ... but this is the point: I can't "feel the pain" and "comprehend the hurt," but I can "carry [the Chapman family] to Jesus" ... to the One who can ... and does ... feel and comprehend. The One who will mend their broken hearts. The One who is, I am sure, longing to heal and rescue and restore.

Pray.

And while you pray for a family you don't know, remember to pray for the people you do know, who are brokenhearted and hurting ... even if you don't know all the details or understand all the pain.

Just pray ... as life goes on.