Your prayer is heard, and there is much grace evident in it, for you have chosen the way of obedience though it costs your heart dearly. To feel the ache of missing one you have loved and still to say, let the Lord's will be done, is no small thing. Obedience is the highest practical courage, and to persist in scrupulous obedience throughout life may need more courage than even the martyr evinces when once and for all he gives himself to be faithful. The Lord sees that courage in you now.
You have judged rightly according to the Word, for it says, Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. The exactness of obedience is the essence of obedience, to turn not from it to the right hand or to the left. The world says we must not be too precise, but the sincere soul seeks to know the Lord's will and bows reverently before the Most High saying, What would You have me to do. That desire to keep close to the Divine mind, personally and scrupulously, is the mark of true sincerity, and the Lord will honour it. No man is really saved unless he is in his heart obedient to Christ, and that obedience must be wholehearted and complete, the obedience of a child, the obedience of love and of faith, not of dread.
Know also that the way of obedience is the way of reward and of refreshment. As the women went to bring word as they were commanded, Jesus met them, and that was the cheering salutation with which the risen Saviour rewarded their obedience. So as you go on your Master's errand, though with tears, you may expect that He will meet you there. Before you go forth again you shall be made calm and happy in the Lord, for He gives assuring satisfaction to those who keep His way.
There is healing for the wound that now pains you. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations, and the least thing about Christ is healing. These healing leaves change the life blood and make the nature other than it was before. Healing and forgiveness are placed in happy conjunction, and when the Lord comes and dwells with His people the Sun of Righteousness rises with healing in His wings. He can heal the broken heart while He cleanses the conscience, and His healing virtue will work in you till you are restored.
Let us pray for you. O Lord our God, look in mercy upon this thy servant who mourns a loss keenly felt. Thou knowest the sorrow of a tender heart and the struggle to obey at cost to self. Grant fresh strength to continue in exact obedience, keep the feet in the middle path and not turning aside. Let faith be lord of the understanding and the paramount principle of action. Pour out the healing virtue of Christ upon the wounded spirit, give pardon and healing together, and let the peaceable fruits of righteousness be yielded in due season. Keep this thy child from returning to that which Thou hast shown to be not of Thee, and in Thy good time, according to Thy perfect will, provide that which is according to Thy Word and for Thy glory. Comfort with Thy presence, assure with Thy love, and let obedience be refreshed with joy in Christ. Amen.