About six months after Specialist Serpa’s death, I received a Facebook message from a stranger saying, “I read the tribute you offered to Matthew Serpa. I was his friend, and I’m having a really hard time. Would you be willing to talk?”
Of course, I was glad to meet with him. I challenged him to avoid the easy paths of dismissing the darkness and dwelling in the darkness. The loss of this precious life was tragic—another horrible example of what sin has done to this beautiful world. It deserves tears— as shown by our Savior—but it also needs to be brought to the One who can wipe away those tears.
We are so easily ensnared by our struggles. In our pride or in our confusion, we dismiss our struggles as if they’re not real and not affecting us.
As a result, we do not take our weaknesses to Jesus. At other times, we dwell in them too much, forgetting that Jesus is strong to save and always gives hope. Our Savior modeled the right way to deal with grief at the tomb of Lazarus: Weep, and then rest in His triumph.