With Jesus, There Is Joy in Sadness

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.’ (Psalm 5:11)

When we have a loved one or someone close to us critically ill or passing away, it is a sad time, and it is OK to grieve and be concerned.  Know though, that the Lord is with you, and bad things does not mean the Lord has forsaken you.   It is natural and common to have illness come upon us and our loved ones; we do not like it, as we do not like hurricanes to hit us in Florida, but it will happen and does happen, and we have to accept it.  Fortunately, we have a loving God who is with us, that we know He is in control, and all is in His good plans.

My mother-in-law, a great encourager to me and one tough cookie (having earlier survived colon cancer, a massive heart attack, a severe stroke that left her wheelchair-bound, and COVID) passed away this April aged 89.  But in essence her life began last year, in August 2022, when a pastor came into her assisted living facility, and she realized though she had gone to church and had been an active member in her local Methodist Church, she did not have a relationship with Jesus. 

She reached out and accepted Christ there in the ALF on the spot, thanks to the pastor’s invitation!   She let us know, and we ‘celebrated’ by praying with her over the phone and sending her a large print NKJV bible as she admitted she found her original KJV bible hard to follow.  She witnessed to her fellow ALF neighbors until her passing.  Her passing was a sad occasion, but it was also one of joy to know my mother-in-law is with the Lord, celebrating in her new body!

No matter the circumstance, do not allow the feelings of despair override your knowledge that we have God on our side!  He is with us, and He holds us in His hands, and rejoice in His name!