Joy and Hope in the Midst of Painful Trials

It was the 4th of July. The family was gathered for the long-standing tradition of barbequed treats, games, family tales, fireworks, and lots of laughter. Dan, my older brother, and I were in a fierce horseshoe battle against Dad and my younger brother, Greg. I was now in my mid-forties and the challenge had been going on since my youth. This was what we do as a family on the 4th. The score was close. Then I caught a glimpse of it, a quick tremor in Dan's left hand. Dad threw next. It was a leaner, but I was totally focused on Dan’s left hand. As he reached for his next shoe, I watched. There it was again, the tremor. Dan noticed that I was staring.

The tremor, it turned out, was the early stage of a rare neurological disease known as Lewy bodies dementia. It crippled his body, attacked his genius IQ, later introduced hallucinations, and then took his life. Shortly before Dan passed, the author was asked to teach a six-week series on painful trials and lessons from God’s Word on his love, provision, and strengthening during these difficult times. What he didn’t know was that God was preparing him for the times that were yet to come.

In the years that followed he said goodbye to five other dear family members suffering from a variety of health conditions. His dear wife and nearly died in a late-night auto incident, and he personally endured three life-threatening bouts of cancer.

In life, the waves can crash over us as we become desperate for help. We hurt and continue to shed our tears. We search for answers and a way to move through it. The questions that can surface may include:

· If God loves us, why is there so much suffering in this world?

· If “all things work together for good”, why am I in this situation?

· Why am I stuck, unable to move forward?

· What is God’s purpose in all this?

· How do I emerge from the ongoing pain?

The trials may be long and painful, and the tears will flow, but we are not alone. Join the author as he you jointly walk down this path of discovery. Together you will look at each story and examine the nature of walking in a broken world, the power of God’s strength when we have none, dealing with anxious moments, defining good from God’s perspective, blessings even during our dark moments, the crucial nature of trust, and the way God can use our pain and suffering to refine our hearts and later comfort others. Please join him on a path to lasting Joy and Hope.