As you may know or have heard from
my FB updates, we've been through a truly sad time as Dad succumbed (after a
valiant fight) to pancreatic cancer. The intensity of our caregiving
responsibilities explains my absence from updating this page in recent
months.
In our family's time of grief, I now want to share with you what we've
reaffirmed about the absolute faithfulness of God.
So, direct from my comments at
Daddy's memorial service -- and excerpted from my upcoming devotional for
caregivers, When Comfort Is What You Need -- here is just a bit of what
we've learned:
During our long days in the ICU and
surgical recovery wards, my mind was haunted by a recurring accusation: You
told everyone you believed God in the good days; but now in the bad ones do you
still believe?
Well? Do we believe God’s promises or
don’t we?
In ancient days one man faced a
domino-effect of tragedies. He didn’t have the benefit of generations of
testimonies that God is faithful. He didn’t have one scroll of the written Word
of God. Yet Job had enough experience with God to stand among his accusing
peers—his body wracked with pain and spirit depleted by grief—to declare:
I know that my Redeemer lives, and …
after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I
shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold.(Job 19:25-27)
I read this Scripture to Dad just hours before He passed into
eternity.
“Read it again,” he whispered. And he slowly but intentionally
lifted his hand in affirmation and praise to God. “I’ll see Him with my eyes,”
he whispered.
“Yes, Daddy, very soon!”
“Good, good!”
On this faith-filled confession Job
took his stand – and so do we. Why? Because it makes all the difference to have
our eyes focused on what is more real than the reality we’re experiencing
today. This is what I know … I know my God, and one day I’ll see Him for
myself. On this confession each of us can stand strong today.
*Excerpted by permission from When
Comfort Is What You Need, Warner Press, 2013. Watch this site for info on
ordering quantities of this gift book for your caregiving ministry and your
personal encouragement.
Blessings and prayers, Julie
Julie, God has used you today to speak to my heart. I lost my 41 yr old son to liver cancer in December. Because of the faithfulness of God, I will see him again. The pain is still there and will be for a long time. But the hope will never leave. We will indeed see Him with our eyes!
ReplyDeleteDonna, Oh, my heart goes out to you, too. Many thanks for ministering to me in your grief. We weep together and we await that reunion with our loved ones and our Lord. Many blessings to you, my sister in Christ.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julie, for ministering to me even in your time of grief. I am praying that this and other wonderful memories with your dad will comfort you today and forever. I send my love to you and your mom.
ReplyDeleteSue, Many thanks for your love and prayers. We appreciate (and need) them.
DeleteJulie, I've been buried overseeing a writing contest and preparing for a book launch event. I'm just catching up on emails and found your link to this post.
ReplyDeleteHaving known you and your family a long time and what you have been going through, when I read your account of your dad's hearing the Scripture from Job and his response I got all weepy. And isn't that true for all who believe? What an awesome comfort that is.
Your daddy wasn't healed on earth, but the moment he breathed his last breath he was healed as he stepped into heaven and saw the face of God.
He was a very sweet man and I'm glad I knew him.
Thanks so much, Pam, for your kind words about Daddy -- and for sharing our sadness in missing the nearness of such a terrific and godly man.
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