Encouragement For The Brokenheartedनमुना

My dad stood six feet, five inches tall and weighed 240 pounds. He was a large, imposing man, but in many ways he was the gentlest soul you’d ever meet. I became well acquainted with grief when I was 18 years old because within two months of my high school graduation, my dad was given the cancer sentence. His battle with cancer was arduous and difficult—for all of us. He seemed so tired, so defeated, so broken. And eight months later, after many complications, he took his last breath and was ushered into the presence of Jesus.

I was quickly thrown into adulthood with his death. It wasn’t that we were incredibly close, but now I no longer had the option of asking for his advice as I ventured into my adult years. I would miss out on having him at special occasions like my college graduation, my wedding, and the birth of my sons. He would have loved his grandchildren!

I’ve lived more of my life without an earthly father than with one. I have forgotten so many things about him and often try to take myself back to the days when he was with us.

Out of that experience, I came to know God in a new way. Since I was 8 years old, He’d been my Savior and my Lord, my comforter and provider, but at that time, He truly became my Father. The scriptures are laced with references of Him being our Heavenly Father.

I would have never asked for this experience—to become a partial orphan at the age of 19. But I can tell you now, well over two decades later, that had this not happened—had my dad not gone home to Jesus—I might not have known God as the Father He is.

Maybe you’re feeling overlooked, abandoned or lonely right now. You feel like no one sees you, no one cares and no one will comfort you. But God sees you. He hasn’t forgotten you. He hasn’t overlooked you. He’s intimately acquainted with your entire being—your hopes, fears and dreams.

He’s the only constant in our lives. He’s the only One who will never leave us or forsake us no matter how many lies our feelings try to get us to believe. Stand on the promises of God above all else.

By Cindy Beall