It often feels as though joy and sorrow are inseparable companions, intertwined in ways that can be both exhilarating and disheartening, at least in my life. One moment, I find myself soaring on the wings of joy, and the next, sorrow cuts through me like a blade of iron. This is precisely what happened the day before I left Ohio to head back to Latin America.
God has incredibly blessed me with the privilege of knowing remarkable pastors across the globe. These men are more than just co-laborers in the gospel of Jesus Christ; they are dear friends, and I am endlessly inspired by their courage, especially those who risk their lives for the name of Christ in some of the most dangerous places on earth. One of these friends has been a faithful servant of the Lord for many years. Sadly, for the past few years, his life has hung in the balance, threatened by his government. From afar, I’ve fervently prayed for his safety. My heart has cried each time I received updates that the authorities were closing in on him, inching ever closer to capturing this faithful servant. The weight of injustice has pressed upon my heart, knowing there is nothing I could do except to pray privately.
Yet, the Lord has continually reminded me that He is in control. Like a wave of relief washing over me, I was overwhelmed with indescribable joy when he contacted me to share that God had made a way for him to escape the tyranny of his country and move to another nation. I was shouting on the phone and doing a hallelujah dance, praising the Lord and thanking Him for His protection!
Yet, not an hour later, my joy came crumbling down. Another pastor contacted me with heartbreaking news. A man from his congregation, someone I had come to know and respect, had been taken far too soon. This man had turned his back on a life of crime, surrendering his heart to Christ and building a beautiful family. It felt bitterly ironic—he had survived the dangers of his past, only to lose his life when he was finally walking the path of righteousness. It was another example of the cruel injustice in this fallen world.
For the past week, I have been reflecting on these contrasting experiences. As wonderful and heartbreaking as they are, I'm reminded of the fleeting and unpredictable nature of life. We can be celebrating a miraculous deliverance one moment and grieving a profound loss the next. It's a powerful reminder that we are called to trust in God's sovereignty in both joy and sorrow. God is in control. Even when we cannot grasp the reasons behind life's injustices and triumphs, we must hold fast to the truth that God is present in every situation, allowing the good and bad to unfold for a greater purpose—one that transforms everything for our best and Christ's honor and glory.
I share these experiences not just to express my emotions but to help others find strength and meaning amid life's complexities. Life will inevitably bring us moments of both joy and sorrow, and sometimes in bewildering succession. In reading this, I hope you are reminded that it's okay to feel the weight of these emotions. What matters is how we respond—by turning to God in both our praise and our pain. Let these experiences encourage you to stand firm in the faithfulness and sovereignty of God. Even in the darkest valleys, God is at work, molding something greater within us. There is never a moment or experience that occurs without a significant purpose permitted by our Almighty God.
So, I choose to keep my gaze fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ, confident in His sovereignty, faithfulness, and deep understanding of our emotions. He intimately knows our joys and sorrows and offers to journey with us through every peak and valley. Amidst all of life's highs and lows, He remains our sure and steadfast hope.
RETURN TO ALL BLOGS
God has incredibly blessed me with the privilege of knowing remarkable pastors across the globe. These men are more than just co-laborers in the gospel of Jesus Christ; they are dear friends, and I am endlessly inspired by their courage, especially those who risk their lives for the name of Christ in some of the most dangerous places on earth. One of these friends has been a faithful servant of the Lord for many years. Sadly, for the past few years, his life has hung in the balance, threatened by his government. From afar, I’ve fervently prayed for his safety. My heart has cried each time I received updates that the authorities were closing in on him, inching ever closer to capturing this faithful servant. The weight of injustice has pressed upon my heart, knowing there is nothing I could do except to pray privately.
Yet, the Lord has continually reminded me that He is in control. Like a wave of relief washing over me, I was overwhelmed with indescribable joy when he contacted me to share that God had made a way for him to escape the tyranny of his country and move to another nation. I was shouting on the phone and doing a hallelujah dance, praising the Lord and thanking Him for His protection!
Yet, not an hour later, my joy came crumbling down. Another pastor contacted me with heartbreaking news. A man from his congregation, someone I had come to know and respect, had been taken far too soon. This man had turned his back on a life of crime, surrendering his heart to Christ and building a beautiful family. It felt bitterly ironic—he had survived the dangers of his past, only to lose his life when he was finally walking the path of righteousness. It was another example of the cruel injustice in this fallen world.
For the past week, I have been reflecting on these contrasting experiences. As wonderful and heartbreaking as they are, I'm reminded of the fleeting and unpredictable nature of life. We can be celebrating a miraculous deliverance one moment and grieving a profound loss the next. It's a powerful reminder that we are called to trust in God's sovereignty in both joy and sorrow. God is in control. Even when we cannot grasp the reasons behind life's injustices and triumphs, we must hold fast to the truth that God is present in every situation, allowing the good and bad to unfold for a greater purpose—one that transforms everything for our best and Christ's honor and glory.
I share these experiences not just to express my emotions but to help others find strength and meaning amid life's complexities. Life will inevitably bring us moments of both joy and sorrow, and sometimes in bewildering succession. In reading this, I hope you are reminded that it's okay to feel the weight of these emotions. What matters is how we respond—by turning to God in both our praise and our pain. Let these experiences encourage you to stand firm in the faithfulness and sovereignty of God. Even in the darkest valleys, God is at work, molding something greater within us. There is never a moment or experience that occurs without a significant purpose permitted by our Almighty God.
So, I choose to keep my gaze fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ, confident in His sovereignty, faithfulness, and deep understanding of our emotions. He intimately knows our joys and sorrows and offers to journey with us through every peak and valley. Amidst all of life's highs and lows, He remains our sure and steadfast hope.
RETURN TO ALL BLOGS
