Brokenhearted and Faithful

So many things occur on a daily basis. Good things. Bad things. Devastating. Life changing. Inspiring. So many things occur on a daily basis.

We don't know what each day holds, we literally should be living day to day - accepting that each day may very well be our last so why not live it to the fullest? We take for granted the time we have - it is not promised. We allow ourselves to believe that - in time we can do this or that - that we will apologize later - that we will spend time with loved ones when we have time.

We live busy lives. We have families. We have jobs. There are bills to be paid. Children to be taken care of. Promotions to work towards.

Then. Heartbreak happens. Illness happens. Death happens. The Unexpected Happens!

A dear friend of mine is working through the loss of a child in her extended family. How hard is that?? We understand. We've lived it. It's truly heart wrenching- makes you sick to your stomach horrible -to lose a child. My heart breaks for them. Our prayers go out to them. Why did that happen? Why - we ask so many questions!

My sweet niece has had her very first heartbreak!! Two plus years in a young teenage relationship - when we believe the love we know when we are teenagers will last forever - has ended. Someone she gave her heart to - someone she invested in fully - someone she loved with all her heart, mind and soul - is no longer there. We can not dismiss the relationship because it was considered "young love" and she'll get over it soon enough and find someone else. She is a person. With feelings - that are hurt. She is experiences true - raw- painful heartbreak that is very real. Why must she feel this now? She has already experienced so much in her little life - the loss of the whole family picture- the divorce of her parents - the death of her father - the uprooting of her living environment - and now the heartbreak of a boy. It makes me sad to see her in so much pain and not be able to relieve that for her.

My little cousin Ysabel - a sweet little girl - loves life - smiles big - careless to the world and its disgusting issues - beautiful - innocent - amazing full of life little girl - has cancer and started her chemotherapy today. She is set for 10 weeks of chemotherapy - a sweet beautiful little girl - the baby of her family. How is that right? How is it okay to hear that news? How do you deal with that? How is that God's plan? How can two parents stay strong?

We are brokenhearted - they are brokenhearted - their world as they knew it is upside down - torn apart - it doesn't make sense - its not right!!! But they are faithful!!! And I truly pray that they continue to stay faithful - it's easy to be frustrated and argue that keeping your faith in a God that would allow such horrible things doesn't make sense - but we are so close to the issue at hand we can't see the bigger picture! Remember...remember that God gave His Only Son so that we may live!! That His Son Jesus Christ DIED on a Cross- Crucified - laughed at - cursed at - tortured - for us!! The bigger picture - God's people - us!!!! So that we can love others and share God's love with others.

What's the bigger picture in Carolyn's life? In Lucy's life? In Ysabel's life and her family? We don't understand - we don't get it - it doesn't make sense - but it's not meant to right now. We are not meant to KNOW right now - we are not meant to have all the ANSWERS. We are to trust in God with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding but in all our ways trust in Him (Proverbs 3:5-6) We make plans for our lives - but plans change - we have to trust that God has a plan for our lives -For He knows the plans He has for you- plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11) Though our lives are not promised here on earth - we have eternity with Him!!!!!! Eternity with Him!!! Our hope and future is with God! Our stories change lives. Our stories - shared - give light to those who have no hope- give light to those who are sad, lonely, desperate, broken. Our faith in God through times of trial - our strength - our Love for God - our willingness to trust Him and walk through those storms (because He doesn't give us anything we can't handle) and praise Him through it- will serve purpose one day - perhaps in the life of someone one day who is going through something similar. We don't know the plans God has for us or why things happens- but He does - let's trust Him- rely on Him for strength (Philippians 4:13) and on others to lift us up and encourage us and hold us when we need them.

We are brokenhearted- but we will keep faith.