Throughout my life, I’ve watched the Lord come through for me in ways that are special, intimate, and uniquely personal. I want you to know that He will do the same thing for you. His character is to give us beauty for ashes, joy in place of mourning, and praise instead of despair (Isaiah 61:3). He is a good, good God. 

In 2017 my husband, Darian, and I were looking for a piece of property to build our forever home on the lake outside of our small town. We had been looking for roughly two years. During that same time, my brother was going through some struggles of his own. He was making decisions that were not helpful to himself or his family. We had been earnestly praying for him to recognize what he was doing and make a change in his life. Through phone calls and conversations he had with friends and family, we found he had come to those realizations. 

As a family with open arms, we were all expecting him to make a full 180 in his life. Instead, on July 20, 2017 we received the tragic news that my brother had passed away. I’ll never forget the day the phone call came. I was out scouting the land to potentially build our forever home on. I had driven my Jeep to a piece of property overlooking the lake when my phone lit up with my brother’s number displayed. I knew right then that something was wrong. It was in that place, admiring such a beautiful view, where I received the devastating news. 

The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NLT), “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.” Grief is real. It hurts. On this earth we will feel sadness. Yet, when we know our loved ones are in heaven we relish in the hope that we will see them again. I’m so thankful for the Lord. Even in such sorrow, He holds you near. He’s close to the brokenhearted and He binds up our wounds (Psalm 147:3). I can’t imagine grieving without the hope the Lord brings. I don’t know how people live without Him. 

The Lord brought me comfort, especially during that next year as my heart was healing. In the midst of many tears, wondering what I could have done differently and wishing it were all a bad dream, He had people praying for me, calling, texting, and checking up on me. He made sure I knew He still had not left me nor forsaken me. He was so good to me in those moments, which is just like God – He surpasses our expectations and is faithful to show us His extravagant love. 

As the weeks moved on, Darian and I agreed we didn’t want the piece of property I was parked on when I heard the news. It also didn’t fully fit the criteria in our hearts. We had a very particular list we were praying would be part of our forever home. Darian and I wrote every specific detail we were praying for down on a piece of paper. The list was vast and seemingly impossible. It spanned from being on a cliff  with a cove to having space for life groups and family to gather, pine trees and a ceiling high enough to fit my towering Christmas tree. 

Wouldn’t you know it, exactly one year later, on the anniversary of my brother’s passing, we signed the papers on our new home. It had every single item on the list. I had to laugh when they told me the closing date, July 20, 2018. God is so good. In John 10:10 (NLT), Jesus tells us, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” 

Jesus in all of His goodness redeemed that day for me. He took a day that the devil tried to steal and destroy and  turned it into a day of rejoicing. It did not bring my brother back, but it did show me, even in the darkest moments, that God loves me, sees me, and is for me. I will see my brother again someday and what a glorious day that will be.

But while I’m here, I’m so thankful for a God who loves me enough to redeem the hard days. He will do the same for you. 

 

Listen to Tyra’s devotion here on wherever you stream podcasts.

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