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"When life doesn't go as planned"
Even when you imagine the worst things happening in your life, nothing can prepare you for when they actually do. I will never forget the night our family found out that my Dad had pancreatic cancer (at the time one of the most aggressive forms), and was given 3-6 months to live. How quickly other things fade and seem so meaningless when in an instant your life changes forever from tragic news. Especially when it comes as such a shock.
Our Dad, Dan, was a fun, goofy, loving man. He was active and seemingly healthy. He was married to his high school sweetheart, father to 5 kids, 2nd father to many, youth pastor, faithful friend and well-loved. Most importantly he loved Jesus and was impacting lives, helping others fall in love with and know Christ more deeply.In our minds he was the perfect candidate to live a long life. But when we realized our plans for his life were not God’s plans, it was devastating to let that sink in at first.
I (Beth) remember waking up the next morning begging God that it all be just a horrible nightmare. But the pit in my stomach reminded me that it was reality. My young and vibrant earthly father was about to be taken home by my loving Heavenly Father and my emotions were conflicted.
Our dad passed away less than 6 months after diagnosis. It was a very long and very short time of watching someone you dearly love fade away. There were many hard moments and tears mixed with laughter, sweet gifts from the Lord, and so many stories and details it could fill a book. But what the Lord began stirring in our hearts during that time is what we most desire for others to be encouraged by as well. And that is the assurance of the Hope we can have in Christ!
So often when we face hardships, struggles, addictions etc., we ask God a lot of why questions. Why did this happen? Why did that person die? Why am I still struggling with this addiction or struggling with... (fill in the blank)?
And sometimes we try really hard to find an answer.
But most often we will never have an answer to the "why" while on this earth. Sometimes we forget that we live in a sinful, fallen, dying world, and that it's only by God's Grace that we can have life beyond our life on earth. God never promised us a “blessed” life now on earth (even when we think we're doing everything "right"). BUT He does promise us the blessing of eternity with Him when we believe and trust in Him. He carries us through every step of our darkness.
“I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have HOPE: because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.’ The Lord is good to those whose HOPE is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:19-26 sustained our family through many dark times)
Throughout my Dad's fight with cancer the Lord began whispering the word Hope to our family through verses, music, devotionals. At first it was a Hope in God that he could heal my dad, add more years to his life, protect our family from loss... But then slowly it became something much deeper than that - that even if there was no healing, that it would be okay.
Because God started reminding us that though He can heal or provide or give relief on this earth, it is not eternal. And that our true Hope is grounded in our Hope of Heaven where there will be no pain, death, or struggles. Revelation 21:5 says He who was seated on the throne (God) said "I am making everything new!!...these words are trustworthy and true". Not only will all be new again one day, but we will get to be with the very One who made us new!!
Our desire for this series is to help others cling to the truth that our only Hope and relief from the pain and darkness in this life rests in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And because of that, we can have the Hope of Heaven where one day all things will be made new.
-Beth