A little more personal than I tend to post, but I just have this heaviness on my heart that there is someone out there that NEEDS to hear this. I know that I need this reminder all the time... HOPE CHANGES EVERYTHING! A battle that began 1 year ago today was tearfully defeated on December 7th, when my Mom went to be with the Lord at 1:14am. I have come face to face with one of my greatest fears in life - losing one of my beautiful parents. In the days leading up to my mom's passing, more and more the Lord was painfully and gently impressing upon my heart, "it is well with my soul...Thy will be done". I began to pray this over my mom as I held her hand and stayed by her side. Those moments are moments that I will cherish all my days. Watching my mom suffer and deteriorate before my eyes was so hard, and then this interesting thing began to happen in her final days - my mom began to have a peace come over her in the midst of SUCH GREAT SUFFERING...she began to surrender to Her Savior. What an example of His grace was seen in her life.
It pains me even this moment as I am about to post this, that she will not be the very first person calling me and saying, "my Christie girl, you encouraged my heart; I love you." With tears in my eyes, I tell you the truth, that life seems forever changed, and in an earthly sense, it most certainly has been changed. Holidays and family gatherings will never be the same. Sunday Church will never be the same. So many things. The grief is great, and at times even unbearable, YET, my hope in Him is greater still. As Christians, we are called to HOPE! We are called to eternity. This world is NOT the end of the story. My mother wrote out several times in her life, "one life so soon shall pass, only what's done for Christ shall last." And this is such a present and real reminder of that. Praise be to God, we have a LASTING and ETERNAL hope. We are reminded as believers in 1Thessalonians 4:13-14: "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." My earthly heart grieves and misses my dear Mom so much, yet my heart at rest in Jesus reminds me that just as He died in His earthly body over 2,000 years ago and death thought it had won the battle, 3 days later - HE ROSE. And as sure as He rose is as sure as my Mom will rise one day when we all meet together in the clouds with Him who has saved us, redeemed us, and will eternally keep us in the new heaven and new earth! He is good! The battle has been WON! Death has been defeated! Victory belongs to Jesus and all who will believe. I miss her so much...but just for a little while. Until then, I will live out her legacy, keep her memory alive, and will look forward with HOPE. Yes, hope changes everything! Eternal perspective makes my heart say, even in this..."it is well, it is well, with my soul." Wherever you find yourself right now as you read this, I pray for you - HOPE. Eternal hope in Jesus, which alone can save and make even the greatest trials of our life bearable, and even purifying, edifying, and renewing. Hope. A simple 4-letter word, yet without it, life is meaningless. I wish everyone not just a Happy New Year...but a HOPEFUL New Year! Comments are closed.
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"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." I welcome you to dive into my grace-filled attempt at sharing the love and truth of Jesus with you! Prayerfully and hopefully, I desire to encourage you and partner with you in your faith, fitness, freedom, and family! ♡
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April 2018
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