God providentially prepared me for when my wife died of cancer. By the time she was diagnosed, I had taught several Florida School of Preaching semesters on the Book of Job, ethics (end-of-life decisions) and several of Paul’s epistles that teach about the resurrection and the afterlife. The Bible verses below were two upon which I often reflected.
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV). God will not allow us to face anything we cannot handle with His help.
“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain… to depart and be with Christ… is far better” (Philippians 1:21-23). Terminal disease in Christians is a win/win; living means serving Christ on earth; dying begins eternal bliss.
The entire Book of Job shows that God has not abandoned us just because we are suffering or facing death. There are things God knows we do not know. Keep trusting God. Keep loving each other. Keep the faith.
[Editor’s Note: I’ve been there, and the loss of loved ones experienced by Christians is softened by reliance upon God through resorting to His Word – as well as by leaning upon other children of God. It remains, to some extent, a work in progress. Active Christian service also helps divert one’s thoughts from grief to productive endeavors for our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]
