Sandra GarzaYou can hardly get through a day without hearing of or seeing tragedies on the news. In today’s society, it’s an everyday occurrence, but when it happens to someone close it’s more shocking. Why would God let something like this happen?
I really can’t say why these things happen, but we live in a time where people have turned away from God. He didn’t say we would have peace and happiness always. This goes back to the Garden of Eden when sin entered into the world for the first time.
It’s a tragedy when you lose someone dear to you. I believe that followers of Christ have hope. I have experienced pain and loss just like everyone has. It makes me wonder why, bit I have put my hope in Jesus Christ. For believers, this means we will be reunited again in Heaven when Jesus returns to take those who have put their trust in Him.
The year 1995 was heart breaking. My father-in-law was diagnosed with cancer, which shocked the whole family. I don’t think we could have made it through this trying time without the hope that Jesus Christ brings in my life.
I was pregnant with my second child, Jacob. This should’ve been a joyous time, but my father-in-law was dying. Over nine months we saw him fade away. He never lost hope, that one day soon he would be face to face with his Savior. The hope that I have in Jesus made the loss, grief and pain more bearable.
A week before he passed away, we were visiting in his hospital room. He called Jeff and me to his bedside. He wanted to pray for this unborn baby that he would never see, hold or know. He placed his hand on my belly and started praying. I wanted to cry out in protest. Nobody should have to go through such pain, but God doesn’t promise that life will be what we consider fair. We cannot even fathom the infinite mind of God. God’s will doesn’t always correspond with our selfish one.
God gave my father-in-law the ultimate healing: to be with his Father in Heaven. This is the hope I have in Christ, that one day I will be reunited with my family of Christian believers. Its God’s will that none should die apart from knowing Him. He desires all to know Him and be followers of Him. He gives everyone that choice. He will not force us to follow Him, but there will be consequences if we don’t.
It’s my hope in Jesus Christ that I lean on in times of happiness and tragedy that keep me going day to day. Tragedy and death are part of life, but believers can face these things knowing that we never say goodbye for the last time. Jesus is willing to meet you wherever you are, no matter what you are going through. He is the greatest hope anyone can have.