On a Thursday, my friends’ 10-year-old daughter was laughing and playing with her family and friends. The following Monday, she was in heaven.
The lovely little girl was abruptly stricken with a rare form of malaria that took her life and left those of us who loved her in a state of shock. Particularly difficult was observing her parents’ raw grief as they said their final goodbyes to their daughter.
In view of their suffering, my friend Jody (who, along with her husband, Chip, were victims of a tragic accident that claimed their own young daughter Teagan 11 years ago) posted 2 Corinthians 4:18 on my Facebook wall: “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
Jody went on to share of her loss of Teagan with my grieving friends. “I used to wake up realizing the nightmare of our tragedy and start weeping each morning. Then I began to wake and realize that each day was one day closer to rejoicing with my Savior. Holding on to heaven helped to carry me through those long, dark days. I hope heaven shines in your hearts as you imagine [your own] sweet girl playing and dancing and making music in the presence of our God.”
Jody’s words give me added hope that even in the face of death and loss, my friends who recently lost their precious daughter (and each of us experiencing trials) can call on a merciful God who one day “will also raise us with Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:14). Today, let’s choose to “fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Let’s focus on our merciful Father and that which “will last forever”!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 2 Timothy 1:1-18
More:
Read Psalm 103:13-19 and consider the compassion of our eternal God.
Next:
What does it mean for you to focus on God when the hard stuff of life comes your way? How can you rejoice in Him as you consider His mercy and grace today?
Gary Shultz on December 13, 2015 at 7:14 am
A sobering account. We thank God for our health and each day He gives; however, we know leaving this life is part of it. I am thankful for a hope God has established for us, for friends and people He sends along the way to comfort us in hard times. Thank you, and for the life path you have chosen. May you enjoy the embrace of God’s love, especially during this season.
marckevan7777 on December 13, 2015 at 8:13 am
Life can be so unfair but still God is good.
Christian singer-songwriter Francesca Battistelli mention on the bridge of her song on Motion of Mercy that “Living for the lost, loving until it hurts, no matter what the cost, like You love me first.” Is a very inspiring song that helps us to remember that Lord Jesus suffer just for us.
sandy229 on December 13, 2015 at 9:15 am
It’s so easy to focus on what we can see, everyone so busy trying to find the perfect gift, trying to mak perfect what will never be perfect……..we need to focus on what we cannot see but we know is there……..God’s perfect plan for our lives……….focus on what truly matters, that Christ died for us, He took the cost for all our sin because He loves us so much. As we celebrate when He became human and came to earth as a baby……….we have Christmas b caus He came for Easter, to die and rise from the dead because He loves us so much.
jim spillane on December 13, 2015 at 1:11 pm
In keeping with the theme of today’s message, “What Can’t Be Seen,” let us remember Paul’s definition of faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1