With These Words

A few years ago, I received news that the parents of one of my husband’s students had been murdered! Yes, murdered! I struggled in my efforts to process the news. It hit closer to home than I was used to. I’d never seen a picture of a couple on our local news station who were killed in their homes who I had actually met!! Wow!

I’ve since had countless conversations in my head with imaginary spectators asking, “Where was their God?” “Why didn’t He save them?” “Explain the ‘good’ in that, you ‘Jesus girl.'”

While these interrogations only happened in my head they were probably reflections of potential questions I wasn’t equipped to address and my own lack of understanding. They were a Godly Christ-loving couple who poured productively into the lives of countless people.

Where was God? Why didn’t God save them?

I did not AT ALL know what to pray! As I sat and just shared with God what was sincerely on my heart, the Holy Spirit did indeed intercede! I opened my Bible and with these words, a glimpse of light was shed on the situation: “For your sake we face death all day… For I am convinced that neither death nor life… nor demons… will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:36-39)

This passage reminds me that God was right there. He did save this couple. They are now in His eternal rest and presence! Evil murdered them but Love rescued them. This evil act did not separate them from the love of Christ! It was powerless to do so.

I don’t know if you’ve had to deal with some degree of tragedy in your own life. Perhaps not as heinous as what I’ve shared or maybe more so. No matter the degree or type of evil or misfortune, it all hurts. Moreover, no matter the degree or type of evil, this scripture applies!

For us left here to grieve and cope, we don’t do so as those without hope. “For we believe God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him . . . After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them . . . And . . . we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1Thess 4:13-17)

Be Blessed.