"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior."
Habakkuk 3:17-19
CJ Mahaney preached a good sermon from this passage at Capitol Hill Baptist Church a while ago. We listened to it several months back, but this sermon illustration has been in my mind a lot since then so I thought I'd try to recall as much as I can for you.
He told the story of a woman whose husband of many years was dying before her eyes, in their home, of unbeatable cancer. They obviously had a very loving marriage and the woman was obviously very broken in grief. Yet, as family watched her, they noticed that she was simply not bitter or consumed with anger over seeing her husband this way. She continued to love him patiently and grieve somehow joyfully.
One family member challenged her "Aren't you mad at God for all this? If your God is really loving and powerful, wouldn't he do something for you guys now?!"
She replied, "He has saved my husband from sure and certain, eternal death, by sending His own Son, Jesus, to die to rescue my husband- and me- from hell. He has secured our pardon, become our Righteousness, and prepared a place for us to be with Him for all eternity. How could I be bitter against a God like this? "
It's a lovely illustration and gets right to the heart of what truly matters when we are grieving for people we love. If only there were similar comfort for those grieving the death of a truly beloved pet.
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