This news weighs heavy on my soul. The Psalms are God's gift to us to teach us how to pray when we cannot find the words.
Here is my meditation for Troy and Sarah Duble as they grieve the loss of Noah, their four year old son.
Psalms 91
1
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2
This I declare of the LORD:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I am trusting him.
3
For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from the fatal plague.
4
He will shield you with his wings.
He will shelter you with his feathers.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor fear the dangers of the day
God, surround the Dubles with your people. Raise up tender warriors who will bravely walk with them, cry with them, and hold them. Let them feel your love in a deep and abiding way, like a young eagle nestled safely within the wings of his mother. Remind them of your faithful promises. Redeem their pain, O Lord. Renew their trust. Deepen their faith. Give their souls peace and rest as they lean into You.
Amen.
Details about the funeral can be found here.
Kudos to the students, faculty and administration of Covenant College. They modelled how to redemptively engage culture during the recent visit to campus by activists. The activists were on a mission to impose their ideology on the school. Challenging situation. Well thought out and executed response by Covenant's leaders and students. A potential divisive confrontation became a friendly picnic on the lawn even though four activists sought to make it otherwise. Dr. Nielsen writes a nice opinion piece in the Chattanoogan.