Sometimes Life Seems So Unfair

It seems only too predictable that after writing a post on hope yesterday and studying about prayer and spiritual warfare, that today I would find myself tempted to feel despair! 

I have a friend whose life has been dedicated fully to spreading the Gospel for as long as I've known her (almost 12 years and I know she was sharing Jesus long before that).  She has sacrificed so much of herself for the sake of the Kingdom.  She is a precious sister in Christ!  I have learned much from her about motherhood, homeschooling, ministry, sacrifice, and love . . . and now her body is failing her. 

She is married to a godly pastor who has mentored my husband and supported our ministry.  She has five sweet children who love Jesus and each other.  Her youngest has autism and epilepsy and has taught me so much about joy and love and has broken through my own awkwardness and discomfort.  Her second youngest is an awesome little boy that my oldest son considers his best friend.  She has two precious teen/preteen daughters whom I love to spend time with and always make me smile.  Her oldest is a handsome young man who is brilliant when it comes to computers and electronics.

The doctors say there is nothing they can do for her.

I look at her situation and find myself crying.

"Oh God, please heal her!  Her children need her!  Her husband needs her!  Her church needs her! . . . I need her. . . "

"How can this be of You, Lord?!  How can this be good or right?  Why would you allow this?!"

"I don't understand!"
 

So I must cling to what I DO know for sure!

There have been times in my life when it seemed that perhaps God was not good? . . . perhaps He was not watching out for me? . . . perhaps He didn't even care about me? . . .

But I have found that none of those are true!  God has always been here!  He is always working for my good, I just don't always understand.  When I am willing to trust Him though, when I surrender to His plan and follow where He leads.  When I cry out to Him, lean on Him, look to Him . . . He always comes through!  I have experienced His peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7), even in the face of great loss or desperate tragedy!

I know that God is good and trustworthy.  Although life can sometimes feel like it is falling apart all around, I have seen that God is always on the throne!

I know that my precious friend is leaning on her Savior now.  She may not know what the future holds, but she knows Who holds her future!

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:1-5 ESV

 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12

"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Deut. 31:6

I believe God is working!  I believe He is faithful and trustworthy!  I believe He has a plan for my friend and her family.  He is with them, comforting them and working in and through them during this time of heartache, fear, and uncertainty.

I know that God does not always choose to heal physical bodies, but I also know that God instructs His children to pray for each other, asking and believing for healing. 

 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.  Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
James 5:15-17

He is able, so I will pray!  Will you please pray with me?!