When We Can't Trace His Hand...

...Trust His Heart

Our hearts are breaking tonight over a phone call I wish we never received.  One of our sweet friends has gone to be with Jesus tonight, just an hour or so ago.  Our friend Avery, pictured above in the blue shirt, died tonight of complications following surgery.  He left behind his precious wife, Joy, after being married for just a few years.  Joy is pictured below, next to me.

We have both known Avery and Joy for the last 7 years, but Travis has known them for even longer.  Avery was one of his dear friends in Naples and they spent a lot of time together, studying the word together and with other guys.  We rejoiced when he and Joy were married just a few short years ago, they were a perfect pair for one another.  I can hardly stand to think what she must be feeling and experiencing right now.  They are so young, in their late 20's, and now she is alone.  Although we know how deeply Avery loved the Lord and that he is certainly in the presence of his Savior, it is terribly difficult to imagine life for Joy and Avery's families, without him.  These are the days that I cannot understand God's plan or why He allowed this road for sweet Joy to walk.  It's seems too difficult, like too much to bear...Lord, why???

...so I cling to what I do know.

I know that our God is infinitely wiser than we are. 

Isaiah 55:8

I know that He works for the good of those who love Him.

Romans 8:28

I know that He promised never to leave us or forsake us, to walk with us.

Joshua 1:5

I know that He has paid the penalty of our sin and made a way for us to be with Him in Eternity.

John 3:16

I know death on earth is not the end of the story.

2 Corinthians 5:8

But it feels very unfair.

It feels very tragic.

And it feels very, very hard to understand.  

So we cling to God's character.

We trust in His Sovereignty.

We believe in His grace.

We rest in His peace.

And we cry out to Him in the midst of our pain...for our friends who are aching, for Avery's wife who is broken hearted, and for his family who is devastated.

I know most of you don't know them, some of you do.  But if you are reading this, will you pray tonight for his sweet wife, who is only in her 20's...Joy??

And will you pray for Avery's precious Mom, who raised him alone, her only child??

We are heartbroken for them.  We are sad for us.  I am sad for Travis.  Avery was a special friend and a guy he spent lots of time with.  It's never easy when death is sudden and leaves you without a chance for a good-bye.  And yet, even a good-bye is not the end when you've put your faith and trust in Christ, when you've realized your sin and believed in Him as your Savior.  There is hope in Christ and hope in death.  We will see Avery again one day and hug him for ourselves.  It's not the end of Avery's story...

But tonight there are many tears being shed for a life well lived on earth, for a man who faithfully loved Jesus, his wife, his family and his friends, until the hour God called him home.

We've loved knowing Avery and we'll miss him dearly.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."

Psalm 116:15