I want to share two important after the trial moments in my relationship with my loving, merciful, ever-present Heavenly Father.

Years ago, in an effort to get closer to God, I removed something from my life. I shifted in the kind of music I was listening to. I enjoyed southern rap music, especially artists from Memphis and Atlanta. As I would listen to some of the lyrics and play it loud in my car, my attitude changed towards others and my ideas of what relationships should be like were flawed. Making CDs and listening to these, most times, negative lyrics was routine in my life and so was my negative attitude and flawed thinking. But praise be to God that He gave me a desire to draw closer to Him and I’m most thankful that nothing traumatic brought this on, but it was a Father never letting go of His child. Some people have the desire for a closer relationship with God after experiencing a horrible accident, but making it out alive. It may happen to others after losing a loved one. None of these things happened to me, but I believe it was God’s amazing mercy and love toward me. So, I commenced to changing my listening habits and I am grateful for the closer relationship with God after doing so. This is a point in my life that I vividly remember having a strong desire for a closer relationship with our Creator. My life changed for the better since that point and has never been the same! Having a closer relationship with God has allowed me to know more about who God is, how He loves us, what He has done, what He wants for me, what He wants me to do, and what He can do through me! Removing the negative music was essentially moving the distractions, lies and darkness out of the way and allowing The Light of the World to have more of my attention and have more space to reign in my heart and life, for His glory and my good!

The loss of my Father, last year, was another moment where the removal of something from my life resulted in a closer relationship with The Almighty God. I lost my friend. We were so much alike. I know we looked alike, but we acted alike, our personalities were similar and we got on my mother’s nerves in the same way 😀.

Losing my father was an opportunity for me to see God cover, protect and strengthen me like never before! I experienced God, saw Him and felt Him surrounding, covering, protecting and strengthening me. This moment of loss has strengthened my belief in God. I believe, now, because I have felt Him. I haven’t only received His blessings and answered prayers, but I have physically felt and experienced Him covering, protecting, comforting and strengthening me during one of the most difficult times of my life. Losing a close loved one was my biggest fear and the source of some of my anxiety. This loss was huge. But I feel like God carried me through it with a protective shield around me. Looking back, now, I feel that the shield has been lifted and I can see what happened and I’m still okay, now, even though the shield has been lifted! I’m okay because of how God strengthened me during it, through it and because of it. Because of God’s truth, I am encouraged in knowing that my dad believed in Jesus as the Son of God and in His resurrection from the dead, and in knowing that he would live, eternally, because of that belief.

Nothing is wasted. There is purpose in it all. All is for His glory, my good and the good of others. Thus, I write, I share, I encourage. To God be all the glory!

The purpose. I imagine that I don’t know near all of the reasons that my father departed Earth, when he did, but I do believe that our Heavenly Father has given me some insight on a few of the ways that his passing has been for a purpose. And that insight has brought me closer to The Lord and given me much comfort and encouragement!

1. I have been able to see others and be more aware when others lose loved ones. I can relate to others better and be able to minister to others better, because, I too, have lost a loved one. I know, better, how to communicate with and comfort the bereaved, as a result of my own experience. I have an opportunity to serve God and His children, in a different way, because of what I have gone through.

2. As I mentioned, earlier, I have been able to see God work in a different way and experience God’s strength and power in me. I have experienced God’s peace that passeth all understanding. I am stronger than before the loss, mentally, spiritually and emotionally.

3. I received an answered prayer. I had prayed for another loved one and their relationship with God. Since my dad’s passing, that person has been going to church and wearing my daddy’s suits to church.

4. I have seen God’s love and work displayed through others! So many people sent cards to my parents, while they were in Texas for my dad’s treatment. They received phone calls from individuals, while in Texas, and a visit. Throughout my dad’s illness and since his passing, many have helped in the yard and around our home. We’ve received many visits and calls. We received much support and many visitors at my dad’s visitation and funeral. People have checked on us throughout my dad’s illness and still, now! It has been amazing seeing God’s love through others!

Losing my dad has been one of the most difficult things I’ve ever gone through, yet, I feel God walking with me and what I feared, I’m walking through it better than I could have ever imagined. It is amazing feeling God holding you up and walking with you, His child. I know that it can’t be anyone but God! This difficult journey, I sometimes can’t put into words, but I am praising God through it all and for it all! I see God’s work all over it. And through all of this, God has shown me that He makes no mistakes and He has everything in control and working out for my good, the good of others and for His glory! In other words, He’s got me! No matter if it is a difficult loss or struggling in walking in His calling for my life, He has it in control and I should walk and obey. He’s got me! If it’s relationship issues with others, I need to obey Him, He’s got me! If it’s health issues, I should trust Him, obey and not worry. He’s got me! If it’s job or career troubles, I should remain faithful and obey Him. He’s got me! This is what God has shown me and I believe He wants me to share with you. No matter what the issue, problem or loss is, He’s got you! Trust Him, obey and don’t worry! He’s got us!

During my dad’s illness, I anticipated writing a victory blog post, after he was cancer free and in remission. My victory blog post wasn’t what I thought it would be, but this is my victory post and we still win, because of God’s salvation! No matter your trial, you win and are victorious, if you confess and believe that God’s Son, Jesus, died for your sins and rose from the dead. You are victorious because of God’s gift of salvation and the eternal life that He has for you!

It hasn’t been easy, but I can truly feel God walking with me. I have truly experienced the peace that passeth all understanding! I am encouraged! Let’s pray for each other!

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Romans 10:9-13 KJV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16 KJV

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:23 KJV

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 KJV

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

James 4:4-10 KJV

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 KJV

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

James 1:2-4 KJV