November 23
A Sister's
Pain
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
Psalm 147:3 (NIrV)
Bea and her younger sister, Hannah, had always been inseparable. They shared everything—from wild nights out at pop concerts to quiet mornings sipping coffee in their favorite café, to marathon shopping sessions. Even their partners had become a part of their inseparable bond, making them a foursome that spent weekends together, laughing and creating memories. It was a life full of joy, companionship, and love.
But that all changed in an instant. The phone call came on a cold Saturday morning, shattering everything Bea had ever known. Hannah had been in a car crash. She didn’t make it.
The world seemed to stop. Bea was paralyzed by the news. Her mind raced, but her body remained frozen in shock. Her sister—the one person who had always been there, the one she had laughed with, cried with, and built a life with—was gone. The grief felt suffocating, like a weight pressing down on her chest that she couldn’t escape.
For weeks, Bea wandered through life in a daze. Her routine crumbled. She avoided her friends and stayed away from her family. The pain of Hannah’s absence was unbearable. She blamed God for it all. Why would He take her away? she thought angrily. What did I do to deserve this pain?
Bea tried to numb the pain with alcohol, drinking more and more each day. She didn’t want to feel the emptiness inside. She couldn’t bear to confront the ache in her heart, so she drowned it with alcohol and loneliness.
One afternoon, as Bea was sitting on the couch, her phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number, but when she answered, a voice she hadn’t heard in a while came through the speaker. It was Lucy, one of Hannah’s closest friends.
“Bea,” Lucy’s voice trembled, “I’m so sorry about Hannah. I just... I wanted to bring you something. Maybe it would help.” Bea didn’t know what she meant, but she didn’t care. She was too numb to protest.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Bea opened it to find Lucy holding out a small, worn Bible. “I thought maybe this would help,” Lucy said softly. “I know Hannah loved to read it. If you feel like it, you can come to church with me on Sunday. If not, I understand.”
Bea stood there, staring at the Bible in Lucy’s hands. She had never been one for church, but in that moment, something inside her stirred. She didn’t know why, but she felt an odd pull, an urge to take the Bible. Maybe it was because it was from Hannah, or maybe it was just the emptiness that had been growing in her heart. Without saying a word, Bea took the Bible from Lucy.
Lucy gave her a soft smile, “I’ll be praying for you, Bea. Whenever you’re ready.”
That night, Bea opened the Bible. She flipped through the pages aimlessly, until one verse caught her eye. It was Psalm 147:3: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
The words seemed to reach out to her. He heals the brokenhearted. Could it be true? Could God heal the pain that consumed her? Bea wasn’t sure, but for the first time in weeks, she allowed herself to wonder. She closed her eyes, holding the Bible close, and whispered a prayer, “God, I don’t understand why this happened. I’m so angry, and I’m lost without Hannah. But I want to believe that You can heal my heart. Please help me.”
The following Sunday, Bea found herself sitting in the pew at church, her hands trembling as she gripped the Bible Lucy had given her. She didn’t know why she was there, but she felt a strange sense of peace just by being in the building. She didn’t have the answers, but she could sense that God was with her, even in her pain.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the exhortation and encouragement found in Your Word.
Help us, Lord, to live lives that are pleasing to You, characterized by holiness, brotherly love, and a steadfast hope in Christ's return.
Grant us the grace to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances, knowing that this is Your will for us.
May we be a shining light in the world, pointing others to the hope found in Jesus Christ.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
