As of this writing, the catastrophic flash flood that occurred in Central Texas on the Fourth of July claimed the lives of at least 109 victims, and over 160 remain unaccounted for. Many who were lost were children at a Christian camp, most of them being seven to nine-year-olds, the ages of my granddaughters. In my network of relationships, the niece of a friend was rescued; the niece of another was “recovered.” This hits especially close to home as my granddaughters will soon be leaving for their camps.
Today marks three years and ten months since God took Jasmine to her heavenly home. Throughout the months after Jasmine’s passing, writing my memoir, What Now, God?, played a significant role on my healing journey. At the time, I wrote, “Losing a child? Losing a spouse? I don’t know which is the hardest. I suppose it’s the one you’re going through at the time” (p. 152). There’s nothing like losing a spouse, but I imagine the anguish of losing a child is comparable.
The natural response to such tragedies is to ask questions that have no answers. Our faith in God is tested, like gold being refined in a fiery crucible (Proverbs 17:3). If we live surrendered to Him, He walks with us through the pain, burning away the dross of unimportant things and purifying our trust in Him. Through the journey, He comforts, redeems, and restores the soul (Psalm 23:2-3).
During Jasmine’s hospitalization, I was interviewing to be a chaplain with Operation Christmas Child. After she passed, they were understandably reluctant to hire me. I told them, “My loss will make me a better chaplain.” I was hired, and it proved to be true.
For nearly four years now, I’ve experienced God’s redemption and restoration. He has enlarged my capacity to empathize with others. Before Jasmine’s passing, I counseled people who suffered the loss of a loved one. However, due to my personal loss, I now counsel with a greater depth of empathy and compassion. The Apostle Paul said, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT).
Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones in Kerrville, Texas, and the surrounding regions. The loss is overwhelming! Samaritan’s Purse issued an appeal for volunteers, and my heart is torn because I’m unable to respond at this time. But I can pray. We can all pray. Hearing the mayor of Kerrville and other officials, such as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Sen. Ted Cruz, appeal to everyone to pray is encouraging.
- Pray for the families who have lost their loved ones.
- Pray for the families whose loved ones remain unaccounted for.
- Pray for the survivors who have been traumatized.
- Pray for the leaders of governmental and non-profit agencies.
- Pray for the first responders and the volunteers.
We don’t have answers to why God allowed this to happen, for His thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). At some point, those who have suffered losses in this tragedy will ask, “What now, God?” In His time and in His way, He will redeem and restore broken souls as He promises to “give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:3 KJV). Life will never be the same for those directly affected, but God …
Stop and pray.
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