Life, suffering and death
Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (Genesis 2:7; NIV).
In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10; NIV).
Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal (Job: 5:17; NIV).
But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction (Job 36:15; NIV).
Then he [Job] fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:20-21; NIV).
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
…and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it
(Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God (Revelation 2:7; NIV).
Father,
You create us,
And sustain our lives.
You teach, discipline
And heal us;
We are entirely
In your hands.
Help us to rejoice in you,
To pray continually,
And to give thanks
In all circumstances.
When our bodies
Go back to the dust
From which we came,
May our souls return to you
In Paradise.