The past few months have been a difficult journey for me and my family. I lost my job two weeks before Christmas. My father who has been battling cancer and other physical problems for several years, has been drawing closer to the end of his life, has been under a lot of pain and has been put under hospice care. And, my nephew was critically injured in a motorcycle accident just over a week ago.
It seems sometimes when we face trials, they all come at once, and we wonder how we can even carry on in the midst of unforeseen difficulties, the stress of life, and the pain as our heart is stretched to the breaking point. And I don’t see how it is possible that anyone can go through times like these without faith in God. Faith in the Creator in Who’s hands is the complete control of everything.
I am reminded of the story in the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus and His disciples are on a stormy sea, and Jesus is asleep as the storm tosses the little boat around and the disciples fearing for their lives awaken Him and ask “…do you not care that we are perishing?” And Jesus calmly tells the wind and the waves to cease, while asking them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Our God is greater than any of our problems, He is stronger than any of our trials, and He is awesome and amazing beyond our ability to comprehend. He has everything under control, and it is only in His strength and power that we can truly find peace in the midst of life’s storms.
When Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount, He said “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” When all that truly matters in our life is knowing God and growing in our relationship with Him, we can look to Him and Him alone for the strength we need when everything around us seems to be crumbling at our feet. Oh, that doesn’t mean it will be easy and painless, it just means He’ll hold us up, give us strength, and comfort our hearts. Thank you for your continued prayers for my father, Boyd Goodling, and for my nephew Chance Goodling, and for our entire family as we walk the road ahead of us, knowing all the while that we NEVER walk alone, but Jesus walks beside us!
If you don’t know God personally, let me invite you to get to know Him. He alone can change your life. If you don’t know how, I’ll be more than happy to show you!