God is Faithful

God Is Faithful (A Love Story). Their worlds had been shattered, hopes and dreams of the last thirty-plus years now nothing more than ruins, reminders of what would or now could never be. After so many trials of life, marriage, raising children, and faithfully serving the Lord in ministry, their spouses are now with the Lord: a man and a woman. Without warning cancer had claimed them, destroyed their bodies, and left behind death and destruction. In one community eleven children were left without a father, grandchildren without a grandfather, a father and mother missing a son, a church missing a pastor; a community and families faith rocked to the very core. In another community three daughters have been left without a mother, grandchildren without a grandmother, a father and mother missing a daughter, a church missing a leader; a community and families faith rocked to the very core. These two people, a man and a woman from two different worlds having left this one and moved into fellowship with God, by no fault of their own left behind a trail of tears and pain. Two widows now living in the midst of so much hurt, so many questions with few answers and fading hope, and with pressure more than one could ever be expected to bear—and no one understands except He who ordained it all. A woman married over thirty years since the age of sixteen, now alone with five special needs children at home and six more who have questions without answers, fears, doubts, and more. No job, a house upside down in a crashed economy, with the world throwing every temptation, desire, and form of evil at her, God was faithful and protected her. A man married over thirty years since the age of twenty, now left alone with two teenage daughters at home; both hurting, both seeking, both wanting answers, both wanting mom. A third child now married with children of her own, she too is with pain, questions, fears, and doubts. The small church they had been called to serve in just days before her diagnosis is now experiencing side-by-side the pain their pastor is feeling; the pressure of the world more than many could take. With little income, a house upside down in a crashed economy, and with the world throwing every temptation, desire, and form of evil at him, God was faithful and protected him. Yes, this would be a rather depressing story if it all ended here. Yes, the story is true, and yes, God was faithful. When two people become one, in this case over three decades, the hole that is left behind truly is every bit as large as the pieces that remain. The emptiness, loss of direction, loss of value, friendship, companionship, intimacy, love purpose, and more is without proper description. Those who have experienced such deep and abiding love desire it even more and appreciate beyond all understanding the value that comes from it. These two now alone, desiring the helpmate they once had and could never have again, were faced with the challenge of either limping through life or being healed by refilling the gaping hole—something only God could do. You see, the standard was set high, too high for most. Both of these now deceased were faithful to God, their spouses, their families, their church, and their communities, shoes not easily filled, and having had the best, neither of these widows would settle for less. The task was seemingly impossible, especially since the pursuit of a spouse was not at the top of their list. There were too many others who needed them, their time, their love, and their comfort. Yet God knew. God had a plan, one He had known since long before death; one He had ordained. He loved them so. He knew their needs, desires, and wants. He knew they needed to be whole. He knew their children needed them to be whole and He needed them to be. Today, these two are one, serving the Lord, the pain of the past a constant reminder every day is to be treasured. With their love for each other deeper than they could have imagined, their desire to serve the God who saved them more passionate than ever before, the unanswered questions no longer seem relevant. Now there are children with parents, grandchildren with grandparents, and communities being impacted by their ministry. God is forever faithful, and no matter how deep the pain, He will never fail you. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Navarre, Florida. Jesus Paid the Price.