For Good

For Good

May has been a rollercoaster of a month. We started off with some awesome news of some major miracles, God at work in family members’ lives and health. With shouts of joy we praised God for his great mercy and wondrous grace.

From there we embarked on a heartbreaking ride of emotions as we grieved with so many. Each week it has been a sorrow anew. We’ve cried with our friends from church at the loss of their husband and father, Julius. With Sharlene Bosma and family as they mourned over Tim. Sat with mouths wide open at the news of the tornado in Moore, Oklahoma claiming the lives of 24, 9 of them children. Watched in awe and praised God for the testimony of Hope Koslowski’s parents, Amy and Shawn, as they gave their precious, sweet girl back to God after 1 year of fighting for her life. Sat in shock, tears flowing, hearts breaking at the news of friends who lost their newborn son.

Come, Lord Jesus, come. You give and take away.

It’s in these situations that we almost always inevitably ask “Why?”. Why this family, their love and their faith was so strong? Why these parents, they fought and prayed so long and hard? Why this couple, their faith was so fragile? Why these little ones who didn’t yet know you?

After all You are constant
After all You are only good
After all You are sovereign
Not for a moment will You forsake me

Sometimes we can see an immediate response, a “greater good” – like the many lives that Hope Koslowski touched and the Lord changed through her mom, Amy’s, blogging their journey. Like the God-honouring testimonies and the WORD that went out during the memorial services for Julius and Hope. I have never been so in awe and grateful for the Christian community and faith and prayers as we saw the world surrounding the Bosma family and so many others.

Other times we cannot see any immediate reason why, it just doesn’t make any sense, just plain, straight-up heartbreak. That’s when we need to lean in, to trust and know that God is at work for eternity.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28

The painful things, the hard things – God permits them. He doesn’t cause them, but he allows them and brings good out of them. It’s hard, but we need to see things from God’s perspective – what he would have for us.

The world’s idea of “good” is immediately, seemingly beneficial. But God always has eternity in mind.

We cannot say it isn’t fair. We cannot say God is not good, that he is unkind or unjust to allow this kind of pain and suffering. For none of us deserve the salvation and love that he has freely offered and poured out on us.

“BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us ALIVE together with Christ – by grace you have been saved -”

Ephesians 2:4-5

When you can’t see the why, lean in on him. Trust him, he is faithful. He is sovereign and good, even in our sorrowing. And though we may not understand it, he makes all things work together for good.

Counting 1000 Gifts

621. Every.single.moment with my family (life is but a breath).

622. The happiest baby alive!