The weekend before we found out about Sofia’s diagnosis, we took our boys skiing for the first time. If you can recall learning to ski for the first time you’ll remember a lot of falling. You spend more time on the ground than you do on your skis. The picture I have above is a picture my sister took of my husband, Justin and our son, James, skiing down the mountain. As you can see James is standing inside of Justin and Justin is holding him up under his arms. James still had to bear some of his own weight but Justin was holding most of the weight for him. James was an active participant in the process but, if we are being honest, his father was doing all of the work. Shortly after we came home from the hospital Justin used this picture to show the kids what God is doing and will continue to do for us during this trial. It was the perfect visual picture we all needed to see of what God does for His children in the midst of trial. In this article I would like to share with you all how God has been doing just that through His Word, and through the prayer/encouragement of the saints.
It’s not that God’s Word makes the pain or the trial go away, but it enables the believer to see the circumstance with the proper lens.
Sometimes grief can feel like a thick fog where you can’t see anything around you. The sorrow is all encompassing and the thickness of it can be blinding. However, there is one thing that always manages to pierce through, and that is the all-sufficient Word of God. The Word of God is so powerful that it acts like the sunlight to warm up the ground and dissipate the fog. It’s not that God’s Word makes the pain or the trial go away, but it enables the believer to see the circumstance with the proper lens. As we begin to view our circumstances through the lens of Scripture and submit all things to Christ, God gives us the strength and faith to trust Him in the midst of trial. I read recently in a book called breath as prayer, “Our feelings are real but they do not always tell us the truth.” The sadness that I feel is daily and ongoing. However, by the grace of God that sadness has never led me to think God is anything other than good. God is good and does good (Psalm 119:68). My circumstances do not change the goodness of God. I hope no one misunderstands me by thinking I’m saying this is easy. It certainly is not, I cry many tears of grief throughout the day, but it is the Word of God that always can pierce through with the hope of the gospel that causes me to lift my head toward Christ. The Lord is carrying me by using the truth of His word to establish my heart so that I remain steadfast under the pressure of this trial. This is the miracle that God is doing in my heart and mind.
I’ve been reminded that God uses His Word and His Body to minister to His people. I cannot tell you how many letters, cards, notes, and texts I have received from you all. I take them out from time to time to read and am comforted (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). I have seen the body of Christ come along so many in my church, and now they have come alongside us and it has been such an encouragement to my heart. Jesus said you will know my disciples by how they love one another (John 13:34-35). You all have certainly shown your love towards us. The love and encouragement from you all leads my heart to sing praise and be thankful in the midst of this trial. I am so incredibly grateful for you all.
The love and encouragement from you all leads my heart to sing praise and be thankful in the midst of this trial.
Recently, I noticed Sofia limping again; which indicated to me her symptoms may be returning. I know what this means, pretty soon my daughter will not be able to walk anymore and I will have to carry her around. As I was thinking about this, I was reminded that every time I get to carry her it will show me a picture of what God is doing for me. I started thinking about all the suffering ahead that I wish I could take on for her. Even though I cannot take away the suffering that is to come from Sofia, I have so much hope. I have hope because I have a Savior who took on ultimate suffering by bearing the wrath of God for me and for Sofia resulting in eternal life. It is in this that I have hope and I hope you all can too.
Rachel is a wife and mother of five young children. She has a love for listening to expository preaching, theology, and doctrine. She desires to make Christ known through her marriage, parenting, and in every word and deed.
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT 