The sadness hovering over our community this week has been debilitating to me personally. The death of Will McKamey has dominated my mind and prayers. This beautiful young man was the type of kid the world needs more of. Just doesn’t seem fair does it? It’s just not the natural order of life to loose a young man with so much promise and goodness.
I have wrestled with so many questions this week. Why things happen…tragedy, heartache, sickness and trials?
The devil always throws a few more jabs when we’re discouraged……my husband had testing this week revealing troublesome health issues. Waiting with my husband in recovery as he slept……. I was miserable in spirit and I just found myself asking GOD….do I really trust you?
These are hard days Lord…..do I really trust you?
This life stinks Lord….do I really trust you?
It’s so hard to pray when discouragement bares down hard and you wrestle with life and death issues.
Getting down in the pit and rolling around in the discouragement is exactly what the enemy wants us to do because it throws us off our game…..focus….. and mission. I’m sad to say I fell straight into the enemies snare.
I am amazed at the faith of the McKamey family……rejoicing in grief…..because they know where Will is. I honestly don’t know what I would do in their situation? I think back to the time my own son collapsed on the track after winning a regional meet. It was his senior year and he had just won the KIL county championship the previous week. He was preparing for his fourth visit to state, predicted to win it all in his division.
Doctor’s told us he had swelling on the brain from a bleed. The swelling caused seizures and unconsciousness. We were stricken with fear….I was numb. He was a week away from graduating, we didn’t know if he would be able to walk across stage. Diagnosed with a weak, leaking vascular angioma in the left frontal lobe of his brain, we were told surgery was too dangerous…..the risk for stroke too great…..and just like that…the scholarships were gone…..the athletic career ended …..it was over for our seventeen year old ambitious son.
When I heard Will collapsed last Saturday morning, I immediately told my husband. We stopped and prayed for him right then…..we knew what this family was going through. My heart just ached for them. I am still aching although I cannot understand the grief they are now in. My son couldn’t compete anymore….their son is now in heaven……I can’t really relate to their loss.
How does a family go on in the face of tragedy?
How do we cope in times of hardship and discouragement?
Everywhere I have turned this week I have been reminded of the scripture in Isaiah 40. This precious chapter holds several of my favorite reminders that give me hope and remind me who GOD really is.
In verse 11 it says…….
Like a shepherd HE will tend HIS flock, in HIS arm HE will gather the lambs…..And
carry them in HIS bosom; HE will gently lead the nursing ewes.
HE is our shepherd in all the seasons of life…..and death. The shepherd keeps us from straying….in our deeds and thoughts. Sheep are prone to stray, they are easily confused and frightened……. they are totally dependent on the shepherd for protection and guidance. They listen to their shepherds voice and follow him…..they don’t lead……they follow.
If we know JESUS as our SAVIOR…..HE is our good shepherd…..and we can totally be dependent on HIM. HIS voice won’t lead us astray.
In verse 18 it says………
To whom then will you liken GOD? Or what likeness will you compare with HIM?
Who in your life has been everything for you? Man will let you down….even family…spouses….but GOD will never let you down. Who in your life can compare with GOD? There is nobody in my life that can restore me….heal me…..replenish me…..comfort me….. only GOD has done these things for me……nobody compares with my GOD.
Verse 26 reminds us that HE is our creator…….
“Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, HE calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of HIS might and the strength of HIS power, not one of them is missing.”
HE hung the stars, HE calls them all by name, HE knows exactly where each one should be, they don’t go missing. HE knows and calls us by our name…..HE knit us in our mother’s womb…..we are not invisible to HIM….therefore; HE tends to our needs….our broken hearts….our souls…..HE sees us.
The scripture goes on to say………
“HE gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might HE increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly……Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”
So here we are LORD…..we are weary. Weary to the point that we lack might……so we wait for you LORD. We wait for new strength…..we wait until you take our weariness away. We need our good shepherd to keep us from going astray in our grief and discouragement…..we need you to call us by name and tend to our hurting hearts.
Who else can we trust?
Who else has been faithful the way our LORD has?
Only HE can be ALL and EVERYTHING to us.
Only HE can give peace to the McKamey family….only HE can give them a portion of healing to sustain them in the days to come…..
Only GOD can be their ALL and EVERYTHING.
No man or earthy thing can comfort them like our GOD can.
I honestly don’t know how people make it without JESUS? How do they cope? Who gives them peace and joy in tribulation?
I can’t function without my JESUS…..
We will experience hardship, loss, and pain in this life but the only one who can sustain us is JESUS.
JESUS is the only one we can trust.
Will McKamey’s life is powerful evidence of his trust in JESUS as well…….he knew him……he relied on him……he had felt his healing power before…….and now he is basking in his SAVIOR’S presence.
Tell me friends…….who do you trust?
#livelikeWill
http://www.wate.com/story/19991699/will-mckamey-folo
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prayers-for-Navy-Will-Family-The-McKameys/289915881162967
