When you are experiencing a hard time, do you ever wonder if God is still there? Since we can not see God with our own eyes, sometimes it can be tough for even the strongest of believers to trust that he is still walking through what ever we're going through with us. When someone you love dies suddenly, it is very easy to question why God let that happen even though he could've just as easily saved that person. I have had these questions run through my mind several times through out my life but in the end, the same answer was given to me every time. God was still there walking through that dark time with me.
Ever since I was a little kid, I always wondered why I had a disability and was wheelchairbound when so many of my friends, and even my twin sister were completely healthy. I always was wanting to run around and do eveything everyone else was doing but I knew I couldn't. I didn't think it was fair. As I got older though, I realized that God is using my story as a person with a disability to inspire and encourage so many people for his glory. That is the amazing thing about how God uses our challenges in life to help people in ways that we could never imagine.
When my Dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer, my sister Hannah and I were only four years old. The doctors told him that he had only a few months left to live and that terrified and saddened all of us. Even through the toughest days from chemo treatments to the many hospital visits, God's provisions for our family never ceased to amaze us. God gave us the best friends and family who were always making sure that we had everything we needed weither it was food or lawn care or even just prayers. A lot of people did way more than that by looking after me and Hannah or giving us gifts. In the end, my Dad is still here by the grace of God!
Wnen I was fourteen years old, I lost my best friend from preschool, Darby Jones to cancer. Losing Darby was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to go through but, I was held by God the whole time. For the first few months after her death I questioned God and asked him how he could.ve taken away someone so young and sweet when her life was just beginning? I was so mad at God that I didn't want anything to do with him! After a few months of grieving though, I started to see that God was using Darby's life and positive message to reach so many people worldwide for his glory and I'm still seeing that eight years later. Even though I still miss my friend eveyday, I'm still overwhelmed at the beauty that i have seen come out from the ashes!
Being a child of God is a wonderful thing, but he never promised that we wouldn't encounter trials in life. Even Jesus experienced trials when he was on earth. God does promise that we will never walk alone though. Deuteronomy 31:8 says that, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (NIV). If you are going through a trial right now and you are a child of God, then let me encourage you by saying don't give up. The sun is always rising. Just remeber God loves you so much and he is right there next to you through the good and bad times!
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