It’s almost anniversary time again. I call it the death-i-versary. The date on the calendar that prompts to take notice of the reality of the fatal crash. A reminder of the motor-cycle accident that ushered my husband of 28 years into heaven. Saying good-bye to a loved one when death is unexpected is not easy. It’s not the path I would have chosen for me or my family. It’s been a time of healing, questioning God, and trusting our Creator for what is in store. I never would have imagined I’d be a widow. It breaks my heart to watch my own children grieve this loss as we face the future without their father. As many of you have experienced, at times in our lives, God’s will does not make sense.
I trust God because He is good.
I’ve chosen to depend on God. I look for evidence, these tangible ways His character qualities of faithfulness, grace and love are wrapped around my circumstances. I see this through those who continue to pray for our healing from grief. I welcome hearing memories of happy times with our beloved. I am trusting the God who loves, whose word never fails, to provide what we need during this time of recovery. We can take the time we need to process our grief by engaging with others in the midst of their losses.
I trust God because He is good.
When the Scriptures describe what is good, God is held up before us as the standard. Psalm 25:8 reminds us, “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, he instructs sinners in his ways.” This is important for us as human beings to understand. God is the one who determines what is good and what is not. We don’t. Sometimes, men sit in judgment of God and His actions. Some have accused God of all kinds of evil, suggesting some of His past actions may have been too harsh or that His words about what will take place at the final judgement and in hell are evil. They are forgetting that their ideas about what is good and what is not are not the standard, but God’s decree is.
God’s works are good. Step by step, as God created the world, He examined it and declared it to be good. Genesis 1:9 “And God said, ‘Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.’ And it was so. God called the dry ground “land”, and the gathered waters he called “seas”.’” Genesis 1:10. “And God saw that it was good. He then surveyed the whole of creation, and said it was “very good”.” This creation is part of the way God reveals Himself to us, and we are told to look at it and learn something of God.
All that God does is good. The Psalmist said in Psalm 119:68 “You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.”
God’s gifts are good, some of our gifts are not good, or are good in some ways but not others. I suppose a gift of chocolates are like that, good in some ways but not others. But God gives good things. God’s gifts express his generosity, love and mercy toward His creation. They are for the good of God’s creatures, He does good to all men; and He especially gives good gifts to His children. God guarantees that for the Christian, “all things work together for good” and that even chastening is for our good. It is good when our faith is tested The many promises and restrictions are all for our good, because God is good. They are designed to get us out of this mess we have made for ourselves.
James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
God’s plans are good.
Have you looked forward to something for a long time, then when you finally got it, it wasn’t at all what you thought it would be. Did you feel deceived? You had faith in the object, not in the one it came from. “Our belief in God is not blind faith. “Belief is having a firm conviction something is true, not hoping it’s true.” (Max Lucado) Is it any surprise some of us have a tough time trusting God? When bad things happen to good people, we second-guess God’s love for us.
Believing God’s plan is best is a crisis of the will. We are deceived when we feel we can’t trust God with our situation and don’t believe he can help us. Doubt is the opposite of belief. The only anecdote for unbelief is to accept the truth. Those who believe God can put their faith in Him in any circumstance. Once we understand God’s character, we can trust him and believe He loves us. In spite of immobilizing circumstances, we can choose to move gracefully and freely through trials.
God’s plan is good.
We can trust God for our future. It helps to know this as we walk into the uncertainties and the unknowns trusting He is already there, waiting for us. As we realize the power of God’s Word, we can stand on His promises. We experience God’s goodness, peace, and providence for our future. Prov. 3:5,6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight.” Choose to trust Him even when His plan doesn’t make sense. God is good.
Exchanging hurt for hope is Sheryl Giesbrecht’s focus—a message she shares with audiences as a radio and television personality, author and speaker. A dynamic teacher and motivating leader, Giesbrecht has endured many changes and challenges, moving her to a deep faith, trust and dependence on God.
She served as Focus on the Family’s columnist for Pastor’s Wives for four years. Hundreds of her columns, magazine and devotional articles have appeared in Focus on The Family Magazine, Just Between Us, Discipleship Journal, CCM, Walk Thru the Bible’s – InDeed and Tapestry publications.
Giesbrecht’s radio show, “Transformed Through Truth” is nationally and internationally syndicated and heard daily by over 10 million listeners on networks across the United States. The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network shares the show internationally on seven continents. “Transformed Through Truth” launched as a 30-minute internet television teaching feature in March 2017. To view this amazing teaching time, go to www.HSBN.tv.
Sheryl has a heart for missions and is avid about reaching out to the poor and needy, locally through the Rescue Mission and worldwide through various ministry partners. Giesbrecht is a Lead Like Jesus Facilitator and missionary with Freedom In Christ Ministries (www.FICM.org) and has been personally involved with equipping hundreds and facilitating the training of thousands of leaders internationally. Sheryl’s latest book is entitled It’ll Be Okay: Finding God When Doubt Hides the Truth.
The joys of Giesbrecht’s life are her children and thirteen grandchildren. She is excited about the new beginning she shares with her marriage to Dr. Jim Turner. Sheryl holds a Bachelor of Arts from Biola University, a Master’s in Ministry and a Doctorate of Theology.
Learn more about Sheryl Giesbrecht on her website, www.sherylgt.com. She also invites readers to follow her on Facebook, and on Twitter (@SGiesbrecht).
