It’s Too Hard
Myra Strachner continued to write her boyfriend, Pvt. Bernie Staller, even after he was reported missing in action. Her last letter was written on April 18, 1945, the day before news of his death arrived.
Today I cried again. I haven’t since the day the president died. I was lying on my bed in the afternoon today and I found my lips forming words, “It’s too hard! It’s too hard!” over and over again, and when I realized what I was saying I started to cry quietly. Then I went into the den and played some of the songs that mean something to us and I cried hard for a little while…339
While it is often said that the Lord doesn’t give us more than we can bear, I’m sure this woman and countless others mourning the loss of loved ones felt inadequate to deal with the pain of their loss. Even those of us who know Jesus as our Lord and Savior are not promised a pain-free life. When Jesus walked this earth, he allowed his good friend Lazarus to die and be buried by his grief-stricken sisters. The pain was real, even though three days later Jesus brought Lazarus back to life for the glory of God and so that many people’s faith would be increased.
Today, God does not choose to reveal himself through resurrecting the dead. Instead, he is glorified when his children experience trials and suffering and yet remain faithful to him. In the midst of Job’s epic suffering, Job’s wife told him to “ curse God and die” rather than continue to live with the physical and emotional pain (Job 2:9). But Job refused, and God was glorified. (JG)
[Job] replied, “…Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
—Job 2:10