Revelation 21: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals…. [God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away (3-4).’”
Still, people say, “God never gives you more than you can handle.” This phrase is not biblical. Is it really an expectation of faithfulness that we are able to “handle” the losses, the pain and grief?
Perhaps instead of handling our own pain and grief, we can imagine God holding it and holding us — breathing with us. God is not watching us from a distance, but is so close that we share the same spirit, the same wind, the same healing breath.
Adapted from “Faith Reflections” by Sarah Stumme, from Café, 2010. Today is the Ascension of Our Lord.