Faithful the Promises of Our Dear Lord

by Audrey Wauson

Recently precious family friends lost their oldest son to an unexpected accident. I guess accidents are always unexpected, but … well there are never words, only incredible, emotions. Emotions I never knew I had …. My husband and I made a flying trip back to Waco. The drive there was full of purpose, of prayer, of a sense of something to do, something that would help the pain. There we visited and grieved with the family and with other close friends. We caught up on things you forget to share in emails. Smiled and cried and hugged.

Then we drove home and the miles seemed longer. Everything reminded us of the loss. The tears were less frequent, but the pain seemed to have settled into a deep deep ache. We were reminded through our reminiscing that our Father also lost His Son. But most incredible to us was the way that our dear friend trusted God, in probably the most painful time of his life.

Steve and Eileen, other friends, were asked to break the news to our friend, Kevin. As they told him what happened, he bowed his head and said, “God is good.” They said that you could just practically see the presence and peace of God descend on him. Oh that we could live so prepared that when the hurricane storms of life come and destroy parts of our lives (sometimes big parts, sometimes small) our eyes are so fixed on heaven that we can truly know and believe that God is good.

Kevin shared that for a few weeks leading up to this, God had been showing him that the outer bands of a hurricane can do much damage, but it warns of a bigger danger coming. He said, at the memorial service for his son, we live in perilous times and it’s important that we realize that the outer bands of destruction are already here and we must pay attention. We must tend to the important things in life. Prepare for a time of great trial by spending time with God seeking to know Him better. During a storm is not the time to build, it’s the time to survive. And those who weather the storm best are those who are prepared. The death of his wife two years ago was probably an outer band and the Lord was preparing him for such a time as this.

I pray that you will make time to sit still and listen to whatever the Lord may want to share with you. We are not living in an easy time. Let’s prepare for the storm by remembering the promises of our Dear Lord. A few days after we returned home, I was trying to process my feelings, my pain, and I wrote this poem.

Faithful the Promises of Our Dear Lord

A man and his wife
Blessed with gifts from above
A girl ‘n a boy ‘n a boy ‘n a girl
Now a mom and a dad

… Then there were six

Memories and moments
Wrapped up as treasures
A blanket against
Life’s painful measures

The blanket pried open
By hands from above
Tenderly took one
The mom … out of love

… Then five clung together

The pain cut like a cold winter wind
HIS hand wrapped the blanket ‘round
Pulled it closer to HIM
Trembling hearts heard HIS voice speak
Comfort ‘n Hope ‘n Promise ‘n Peace

Then without warning another was taken
Snatched from the blanket,
The others cried, shaken
“Dear God, what is happening?
What are YOU doing?
In all of this pain,
Where now is our hope?
Where is the gain?”

Silence the answer …

A father’s head down
A heart bowed in reverence
A voice in the night
“God is good” he whispers

… Then there were four

For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD.
"They are plans for good and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

AW