Grateful In Suffering

I am in a Bible reading FB group and a couple people were saying it is difficult to read the book of Job right now because of the struggles everyone is going through. Others were encouraging them to keep reading to the end, because God has the last word and reveals His power, faithfulness, omniscience and sovereignty in a big way. And how beautiful the deepened relationship Job has with God, as even through everything being stripped away in his life that he held dear, his praise to God did not waiver.

I have tried to keep my focus on God’s goodness and faithfulness and I am grateful for so many things surrounding Jonathan’s passing. 

• Family and friends being able to travel freely to be with us from near and far. - I can’t imagine the added heartache of families not being able to grieve together right now.

• My mother being close by and able to stay to help me physically and emotionally for several weeks.

• My sister/brother in law and so many others helping with all the details of Jonathan’s celebration.

• Compassion and flexibility from my job.

• Jonathan passing away at home, where I could sit with him right away and have privacy.

• Friends that continue to check in and send encouragement, love and a listening ear.

• A church family that continues to surround us now that family is far.

• “The neighbors” that are family and loved Jonathan as their own, they continue to help to keep his memory alive and pull me out into the sunshine.

• Being able to share the love and gift of Jesus.

• And countless other blessings.
  

May I be able to say as Job did,

“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” ‭‭
Job‬ ‭42:4-6‬ ‭‬‬