LIFE IS HARD, BUT GOD IS GOOD

Tragedy strikes when you least expect it.  This week we received the news that a Facebook friend of ours, 30 year old Pastor Josh Allen, was killed instantly when he was hit head on by a driver driving in the wrong lane.  This 24 year old driver was estimated to have been going 90 mph when he hit Josh who was headed to the airport to pick up his twin brother.  The next day was Josh's wife's birthday.  He is also survived by a nine-month old son.  They have no life insurance.  And not only does my heart ache for his family, but I can't help but ask why would a loving God permit this to happen. Why would God ever take home a young pastor, husband, and father in the prime of his life?  It just doesn't seem fair!  Ironically, the very same thing happened to Josh's grandfather, who was also a pastor and who was survived by his wife and four young children.  Why?  Those are hard questions that we ask so often after tragic events like this.  I freely admit that I asked the same thing when my mother was killed in an auto accident twenty years ago. Why?  Unfortunately, there are no earthly answers and all we can do is ask God for peace and strength in those tragic times, believing and knowing that God's ways are always perfect and right, even when we don't understand why.  Life is hard, but God is good, all the time.  Pat Thum was the only child of traveling evangelists who taught her about prayer and helped give her the assurance that Jesus was always with her.  But because of their travels she grew up in an adult world and was always very lonely.  Her music career began when she was three years old and started singing on stage.  As the years went on, Pam began to realize the effect music had on people and the hope that the words she sang often gave them. "I wanted them to feel the peace I did when I sang to God. I wanted them to feel as though Jesus were hugging them through my music."  And so it began. Pam Thum started writing songs when she was 16 and decided to pursue song writing and performing as her own full time ministry. In fact, she is the author of this week's song. But she faced disaster when she became engaged and almost married a man she really didn't love, all because she let fear run her life. She was afraid of what people would think and afraid not to do what they thought. But, standing at the front of the church in a wedding gown, friends and family all there, Pam did one of the hardest things she's ever done and backed out of the ceremony. It was the right decision but right decisions have a way of amplifying all the terrible decisions that have lead up to that critical day. Pam says there were no smiles, just a lot of confusion and hurt.  Today, Pam is married to Stephen Marshall and together they have built Pam Thum Ministries, which is partnered with several other "world-changing" ministries. Her mission remains the same - to fearlessly share the Good News of Christ with the world and encourage others to do the same."  Life is hard, but God is good.  I don't know what tragedy or challenge you might be facing today - physical, emotional, financial, relational or whatever. Sometimes it may be the loss of a loved one like Josh, or a devastating announcement by your doctor, or a hard decision that you are forced to make.  You, too, may be crying out "Why?" and desperately seeking answers.  And while the answers may not come now, God's peace can indwell your life - a peace that passeth all understanding - a peace which He alone can give in the deepest storm.  I know, for I have experienced that in my life.  Just remember, the Lord has promised never to leave us or forsake us. "Don't give up, He walks beside you, On this journey home and He knows. Yes, life is hard, but God is good!"

You turn the key

Then close the door behind you

Drop your bags on the floor

You reach for the light

But there's darkness deep inside

And you can't take it anymore

'Cause sometimes living takes the life out of you

And sometimes living is all you can do

Life is hard, the world is cold

We're barely young and then we're old

But every falling tear is always understood

Yes, life is hard, but God is good

You start to cry

'Cause you've been strong for so long

And that's not how you feel

You try to pray

But there's nothing left to say

So you just quietly kneel

In the silence of all that you face

God will give you His mercy and grace

Jesus never said

It was an easy road to travel

He only said that you would never be alone

So when your last thread of hope

Begins to come unraveled

Don't give up, He walks beside you

On this journey home and He knows

Life is hard, the world is cold

We're barely young and then we're old

But every falling tear is always understood

Yes, life is hard, but God is good.

Listen to it here.    LISTEN

(Note - I have related comments on my personal blog for March 2 which can be found at http://barrysbasicblog.blogspot.com/