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 In the wake of the news about the death of Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter, Maria, we are left with shock, heartache, and questions of how to help. For those of us who have never had to experience this kind of tragedy, the thought of it is almost unbearable. All over the internet people are praying, offering condolances and support, and raising special prayers for Will Chapman, the son also involved in the accident.
Some comments I have read left by fans and Christians from around the world have been lengthy and offered much. The vast majority of them, though, are simple statements of offered prayer. I think most of us have just been left speechless. What can we say? What can possibly make any difference in the lives of the Chapman family right now? We can't imagine it. The words don't exist. Our hearts cannot truly grasp the pain and heartache we feel. So we simply pray. A simple prayer, though, is the greatest thing we can possibly give at this time. God knows what happened. He has held little Maria Chapman and welcomed her home. He has gathered His angels to sing for her, and maybe even delights in the same little-girl giggles that brought the Chapman family so much joy. And He watches her earthly family; the same family that He led to adopt an orphan and take her with them, even if just for a while. God knows their grief. The Lord has heard their cries, and the cries of the world. The pleas and prayers sent up to Him have been constant since the news was made public. He knows that hardly any of us, and especially the Chapmans, can really wrap our minds around our emotional reaction to this death. How should we ask for His help? The answer lies in the very strength and awesome power of our God. Our God feels the pain with us, but He also sees something good. He sees His children coming together, believers from all corners of the globe banding together through our faith in Him. He can handle that pain because He sees it all. So for the Chapman family, we pray for God to take their pain -- all of it -- every emotion and thought that they are experiencing in this moment. And then we ask Him to give it back one piece at a time, in small measure that they can handle. We ask him to give back one emotion, then help to name it, identify it, confront it and deal with it before facing another. To face all at one time is so overwhelming that it is just a firestorm of fleeting thoughts, none of them staying long enough to truly be dealt with. But through one piece at a time, given back by the Lord God as He leads the way, healing can take place. It will not be a quick process. It will be the hardest thing this family has ever done. It will be a lifetime process for Will, who was driving the car. But with God's help, healing can begin. So I ask you to pray. Cry, hurt, and reel in horror, yes, but pray fervently. For as simple as the words may sound, or look on a message board for mourning, they are the only words that can make a difference. "I pray for the Chapman family."
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