Dear Friend,
This year, BY the GRACE of GOD, we are celebrating 45 years of ministry! Hallelujah!! God has been so faithful to bring us through the good times as well as the bad ones.
Many of you know, for years, we drove from church to church (planned ahead of time) with our three little ones, criss-crossing the nation to teach and share God’s Word in Song. We were fulfilling His mandate to us from Colossians 3:16:
Often we prayed to make it through rain storms, snow storms, traffic jams, mechanical issues, accidents and even making ends meet for our family! God was faithful then, and He still is! He’s always faithful!
Then, as we have shared before, the hardest thing we ever faced happened when our son died. To be honest we weren’t sure if we would make it through that pain and heartache. But again and again, God’s love and mercy continued to draw us and His comfort and love began to heal our broken hearts.
Everyone goes through hard times—some more than others—there’s no one in this natural world who doesn’t face difficulty at some time. In fact, Jesus said it plainly in John 16:33:
Hard times are part of living in a fallen world, but thank God we have a Savior who can carry us when we need to be carried, and heal us when we need healing. He is faithful. The great apostle Paul went through more trials than most and was very transparent about his pain, suffering, and hardships. In 2 Corinthians 1:8 he says:
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. (NKJV)
He didn’t avoid difficulties or pretend they didn’t happen, but he was honest about how hard it was, while encouraging us in how we could make it through.
When I read about Paul’s troubles, I was comforted knowing I was not alone in mine. It helped me to see that he also faced pain beyond words but stayed strong in the Lord.
Although there may be pain in the midst of your struggle, you can be assured that as you keep your eyes on HIM, He will bring you through.
Surviving the loss of our beautiful son Beau has given us the ability to trust The God Of All Comfort, and a desire to share His comfort with others. We have seen the Lord’s faithfulness through A LOT of difficult things.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:35,37-38 (NLT)
God’s promise is not an absence of sorrow or pain––the promise is that through His love we are more than conquerors and can get through anything! He will never leave or forsake us. He will be with us through it all, good and bad, sorrow and joy, mourning and rejoicing.
He is always faithful,
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 NASB
Tell Us Your Story
Charlie & Jill are approaching their 45-year anniversary in ministry. We would love to hear how the ministry and their music has impacted your life. Click the link for a quick, easy space to share.
Resources for Understanding Grief
To understand grief more fully—and be able to help others survive grief and loss—order our book: When Loss Comes Close to Home: Finding Hope to Carry On When Death Turns Your World Upside Down.
Whether you’re grieving or walking beside someone who is, our brand new USB, “The God Of All Comfort” offers real hope, real help, and heartfelt wisdom.
Join us for a time of comfort and encouragement on the Finding Hope Podcast with Charlie & Jill LeBlanc, Getting Through What You Never Asked For.
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