Promises

I haven't blogged for quite some time and random thoughts have come into my head. I was reading several articles about hope and had thoughts on death. No, I am not contemplating death. I have attended several funerals of late, one of which was a friend and fellow colleague who passed away from cancer. Another memorial I attended of a pastor, friend, father, grandfather, brother, husband who struggled with cancer for 10 years! He was an amazing man of grace and humility! He was a great influence on many.
There are many crusades for cancer. None have found a cure yet for certain cancers. The one my friend passed away from was concerning as we can all get this type of cancer. It is sad as she was coming back from the island to live here in Coquitlam and was going to come back to being an EA in the district where I work. She left behind a 3 year old and a 12 year old. She also just had married a couple of years earlier.
We may not know when our time is up and when we leave this earth but one thing I do know is that my hope is in Jesus. I believe that He gave me eternal life through belief in Him. I strive to live for Him every day. I do at times falter in my faith and I do have doubts at times, but He gives me hope for a future. Jeremiah 29:11 says; "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future". A thought just came into my head, I had a friend who was murdered. She was a believer. I  wonder if God planned for her to die in a horrific way? Isaiah 12:2 says; "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. I do believe she was not afraid to die. But sad, just the same.
We all experience trials of this life in different ways and cope with tragedy in different ways. I am coping by writing this post. Both my friends have gone to be with Jesus, this was their belief also that they would enter God's kingdom in heaven because they believed. They are out of pain. The one thing though is that they leave their family and friends behind. So, how do we grieve and cope when they are gone. I don't have all the answers, however, I put my trust in God to help me cope through each day. Prayer definitely helps and I believe God answers those prayers, perhaps not the way we would want them answered.
If you have lost a loved one and still grieve, put your hope in Jesus. He is there to comfort and restore you and give you grace.
Blessings,
Sharon Rose