I’ve long appreciated Dennis Rainey, a great brother. Eternal Perspective Ministries considers it a privilege to support FamilyLife, which Dennis and his wife Barbara cofounded along with two other couples.
Dennis has a new podcast called “Inspiring Courageous Faith.” He and I had a great conversation together, and in part one we talked about my wife Nanci’s cancer, my grief since she went to be with Jesus, and God’s sovereignty over it all. Dennis shared about a tragedy their family has walked through, and how they’ve trusted God through it, which was touching:
On the topic of courage and trusting Jesus through suffering, here’s something Nanci wrote during her cancer battle:
“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:13-14, ESV).
To “look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” does not mean all of us will live as long as we want or that all will go according to our wishes and desired diagnoses in this life. The LORD’s goodness toward us is what He knows to be the best good, for now and forever, not what we think to be the best good for us.
His good may not always feel pleasant, or even fair in my limited perspective, but the truth is: His good is always perfectly designed for me. The LORD’s good carries His plans for my life; and His plans are better than I can imagine.
God often blesses us by revealing some of His good purposes in our lives. These are times when it is easier to continue walking the path He has chosen for us. He sometimes withholds the reasons for His choice of goodness in our lives until we see Him face to face. This too is part of His goodness toward us.
He desires that we trust in His character rather than our circumstances. For me to believe with all my heart in the goodness of God—under all circumstances—blesses my Father, my Savior, and my Comforter. That is to say: it causes God to rejoice in me. What could possibly be better?!
Dennis mentioned my booklet Grieving with Hope. If you’re dealing with loss and grief, my prayer is that it’s an encouragement to you, and a reminder that God is with you in your suffering.
Some further thoughts on trust:
“We cannot always trace God’s hand, but we can always trust God’s heart.” —Charles Spurgeon
“I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain.” —John Henry Newman
“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.” —Psalm 9:10
