Lemme Lay Some Truth On Ya.

Having lost my brother at a very young age (he 14 and me 11), I have often been asked how you deal with such a thing. I can't count how many people have said something along the lines of, "I just don't know what I'd do if I lost MY brother/sister."

What are your options really?

Because I had no other choice, I got up every morning and carried on with my life, reminding myself often that, regardless of my own pain, my brother was perfect and whole and wouldn't come back to this place even if given the choice.

For this reason, I have often wondered how non-believers deal with death. Sure, I didn't have a choice when Adam died but to continue on with life... but my only reason to enjoy life was the hope I have in a Savior who offers eternal life. If I didn't know to the depths of my soul where Adam is right now-- if for some reason I happened to believe his life just ended, or his "energy" just floated into the atmostphere-- I don't know that I could ever smile again.

But I do know. And I treasure that truth more than I can say.

In light of recent events, this train of thought has gone beyond death to just heartache in general. It's no secret that I was devastated by a break-up with a man I'd planned my life around... but, fortunately, I have faith. It's hard; every morning it's hard... Everyone I know seems to know where they're going and who they're going with, and just this time last month I myself was safe and secure. And it doesn't matter how often someone says, "You deserve better" or "Everything'll turn out okay."

Can anyone really get by on simple words of encouragement?

I can't. In fact, I can wholeheartedly say that most days the only way I can function is to grab onto God's truth and an unfailing hope in the One who loved me first. While I would never wish heartache and despair on anyone, my soul delights in knowing that this trial is bringing God glory... through my heart's renewed longing, through my hunger for His Word, through my conversations with others about what I'm learning...

These are just a few truths that I've been meditating on lately.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Phillipians 4:7

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9

"For our light and temporary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:17-18

"These [trials] have come so that your faith-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
1 Peter 1:7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Phillipians 4:6