On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God (John 16:26-27, ESV).
My family and I have experienced a season of fiery trials for the last 9 months. My wife and I have endured all manner of losses, including the death of a child. We have become very acquainted with a wide range of human emotions that were familiar to many writers of Scripture, specifically David and the other psalmists. We have transversed the rollercoaster of highs and lows; we have gone very rapidly from “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1, ESV)” to “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? (Psalm 22:1, ESV)”, in a matter of minutes. It has been painful, sorrowful, exhausting, and even fearful at times. Nonetheless, the common, predominant factor has been the tender care and paternal love of our Heavenly Father.
We have been bereft of loved ones and friends, and it has seemed that darkness has been our constant and only companion (Psalm 88:18); nevertheless, the reality of it all has been that our Heavenly Father has never left us nor forsake us (Psalm 27:10). We have been recipients of the love of the Father as our Lord indicated in the title verse. Our Heavenly Father has not reluctantly thrown to us the leftovers of His blessings. On the contrary, we have lived His unceasing benevolence and favor; He has showered us with His tender mercies, which are ours in Christ Jesus, our Lord. We have come to understand and accept that He has disciplined us because He loves us, because He has adopted us through Christ Jesus and because His goal has always been our participation of His righteousness (Hebrews 12:5-11).
It has not been an easy season, especially when one has tried to comprehend it all. The pain has not completely gone; the questions and doubts come back from time to time; not all the wounds are utterly healed. Yet I say that despite the pain, the Father’s love has been our constant bread and portion. We have learned and are still learning to live off His paternal favor towards us and that alone justifies everything we have gone through.
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