The Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh Away

I recieved word last night that the mom of a friend of mine had passed away. She was participating in a triathalon and there was a bike accident in which she sustained serious injuries. We were all praying fervently that the Lord would heal her, but the healing He chose was an eternal one.

As I lay in bed last night praying for my friend and her family, this was the verse that came to mind. Sometimes God's plan is so hard to understand. I like to make sense of things and it's hard to figure out why one is given more time on this earth and why another isn't.

I am still in awe at the miracle that has taken place in my friend A's life--2 major heart attacks with no warning at 28 and after a few months of waiting she recieved a heart transplant and is now home recovering. At times it seemed hopeless...but God had other plans.

Why is it that the fervency of prayers was probably the same, yet there were two different answers? I am a pastor, and still this troubles me. Loss is heartbreaking.

Yet this verse from Job--"the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord", rings true. There is no explaination, no reasoning. Just the simple fact that God does what He sees as best and we are to bless His name no matter what.

I have no idea how I would have gotten through life without God. Without the comfort of verses like that. There are so many times that as humans, we can find no answers. But I can always find God.

A co-pastor shared today how at the Passover meal, the first food eaten is bitter and the last food eaten is sweet and the truth that God never gives the bitter without at least a little bit of sweet.

How true this is. Certainly, the sweet can be hard to find and hard to even appreciate when the bitter is so strong. I think of my friend who mourns her mom, but also has a 2 month old baby daughter. I trust this baby girl will bring joy, in the midst of the pain.

My heart and prayers go out to this family experiencing one of the greatest losses. May God bring them peace and comfort through His people and His Word.