Why, God?

Last week a friend that I have known for over 15 years lost her step-dad to a sudden stroke that they determined was linked to brain and lung cancer. Up until a few weeks ago they knew nothing of the cancer. It's really hard to see your friend hurt like that and to have no answers as to why!

A few months ago a dear lady that lives across the street from my in-laws just finished doing yard work with her husband. He sat down on a bench in the yard, had a massive heart attack and died a few days later. They are faithful members of our church and a precious family. I saw her just the other day and you just wonder how she's putting one foot in front of the other?

Devastating. It's the only way that you can describe the loss of someone that you love so much. It takes the wind right out of you and you can't believe that your life has been altered in such a drastic way in just a matter or minutes.

Today I was reading my Bible. (I love my Bible. I love how God speaks and how He's always speaking.) I read this scripture that says, "As you do not know that path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things."  Ecc. 11:5

God is such a mystery! The "why's" and the "how's" and the "when's" sometimes go unanswered, and those of us that are left are sometimes just trying to grasp for some sort of word of encouragement or place of comfort.

I remember, when I was younger, my dad not allowing me to go to a party that "all the other kids were going to!!" I was so mad at him!!! I cried and cried and begged and begged. He still said no. Later that night a very popular boy from our high school... good looking, soccer star, fun, easy going... was killed in a car accident just after he left the party. He was drunk and his friends could do nothing to save him.

I DID NOT understand why my dad had disappointed me so. I didn't understand why he wanted me to miss out on the fun. And now, looking back, I realize that his wisdom was so much greater than mine.

Missing a party in no WAY compares to missing a loved one. But our Heavenly Father has so much wisdom. He does allow things in our lives that hurt very much. He also offers us peace in the storm, the ability to lay our burdens before Him, and a promise to NEVER leave us or forsake us.

The loss of these two sweet and precious men really has me thinking. I think about my own aging parents and how, when their time comes, I may just stop breathing myself. I think about the people who don't know Jesus and it's no wonder the state of our country when it comes to depression, loss of hope and confusion when they loose a loved one. I just pray that as I move forward that I will be more faithful to share Jesus with those around me so that they can know His peace.

Lord, I pray for these sweet families that have lost these precious dads. Lord, it's really hard to understand the reason that you allow hurtful things, but I praise You that You are in control. Thank you for loving us and for having the wisdom that we so often lack. Please be their peace today. Carry them through those moments that come when they just want to scream from the pain and emptiness that comes with losing someone you love. Speak to their lives in a fresh new way through this and help them to seek you with all that they have. I love you Jesus! Amen.