Sometimes, I think that grief is one of the devil's greatest weapons against the believer.

I can hardly tell the difference between my own soul and the devil, in grief cycles. I don't know if it is the devil accusing God, or my own heart, when it comes to grief of loss of my child. I only knew him 21 days and the devil can make me look at God in worst ways, when I look through that chasm of dark meditations. I do pray for the parents in Newtown and the other parents who empathize because of their own pains that are pricked by these sad trajedies. I pray that the Church of Christ will be aware of the pain that our brethren are feeling and what a danger it is to the souls of the grieving and be gracious to those whose hearts are in anguish because and through this season, now and for the rest of their lives. My tragedy happened on Easter and there is never a day that doesn't jarr the pot that houses thoses tender grief sensors. Shock makes us able to cope initially and then the days come and unwrap new accusations of God that must be pulled up like weeds and thorns that can choke any true faith from the soul. These tender souls need the special care of the church of the Lord Jesus. I pray that they will be instructed in the true value of prayer and praise in the life of the believer. I pray that they will be protected by elders who will not allow their souls to become prey to the wicked one. I pray that their lives will be seen as the mission of their churches to see them carried to glory on the pallet that their grief has placed them on. May they not, like "Heidi's grandfather", be left to curmudgeon outside of the community, because of their sad uncomfortability with levity in the midst of their inexpressable grief. Like the Lord Jesus, may the church give these dear and saddened people a place to bring their accusations against God and place them before the people of God, to have them prayed for, that they might find grace and help to grow and see God through the dark clouds that will only grow deeper and more sickening with the days of loss that will follow. Help us to remember the people with compassion. Lord, had you been there my brother would not have died, said the dearest friends of Jesus. Surely, we have no dearer relationship than they do. Help us not to sin so greatly in unbelief that You would not restore us. Help us to show that true sympathy and hope of the resurrection of the dead that Jesus showed to His dear ones in their grief. Thank You, dear Jesus that You are not daunted by grief from loving us. Show Your love to those people through the Church of Christ upon the earth, through acts of kindness and loving sermons and visitations and prayer and listening ears. Lord, You said that we could do these greater works in these days and we pray that You would own these works as we do them for Your glory. May we not be those who reprove and rebuke the pained and stricken, may Your people find a heart to love the stricken and draw unbelievers to learn of the true God, in their grief and believers to be unwound from the choking cares that grief inevitably inflicts. Not for our glory in this generation, but that Your name would be honored and praised upon the earth. In Jesus Name. Amen.