We serve a mighty God. Through Him, all things were made. From the void, He created all that we can see and all that is unseen. The mountains tremble at His voice. Even the wind and the waves obey Him.
Jesus spoke with such authority that demons begged for mercy. The religious leaders said that no one spoke like He did. He could pierce the sinner’s heart and speak peace to a fallen world.
The miracles He performed astounded those who saw them. He walked on water. He healed the blind. He conquered death. Even the grave was no match for His power.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing is impossible for the God we serve.
Six months ago, I believed that He had the power to save her life. The doctors were out of options. Her cancer advanced beyond their medical wisdom and only God could have saved her. So many of you prayed fervently for a miracle. I prayed. The kids prayed. Team Beth prayed.
God did not save her. Miraculous healing did not occur. Eleven months after her diagnosis, she breathed her last on a sunny Saturday evening in September. We said our goodbyes and left Houston without her. A void was created in my heart that I cannot explain. Only those who have walked this road before can begin to understand how my very soul was ripped in half. I have spent the last six months trying to bring balance back to my state of mind. The only words I could find to describe the feeling is, “I feel like I am constantly forgetting something.”
Where was my miracle? Why couldn’t I experience God’s power in the way others have? Has He given up on miracles? Does He let nature takes its course? The nature He created?
In the middle of a worship service last month, the Spirit of God asked me a life changing question:
What would be the real miracle? Taking her cancer away or using her death to transform the world?
Doctors can reverse the effects of cancer, but only I can reverse the effects of death.
The real miracle here is still being worked. He is working in the hearts and minds of all who knew her. None of us are the same because of her life. Her death has had just as much of an impact.
Dave, I can not imagine what you, Brian, and Emily go through on a daily basis. Beth made a lasting impact on my life before her death; she is still making an impact. She told me “God is in control” and “be still and wait” on more than one occasion. I have always known He is but since her death I have stopped, waited, and listened for His guidance more than ever. He is teaching me to through her death to rely on Him more. He is guiding me down a path that had she not gone to be with Him; I am not sure I would have been brave enough to go down. I am thankful that God brought me to FBC Kaufman MOPS group on that Wednesday night. I am forever changed through my friendship with Beth. My kids are forevered changed by the love and support they recieved from you and Beth. My marriage is forever changed by the example that you and Beth set for us. We love your family. Ya’ll are never far from our thoughts and prayers.
I think about Beth every day and thank God for her and the influence she had over so many people. I am still praying for your family and for Beth’s extended family of all who love her.
Amen Dave. Such beautiful words yet again! My life was forever changed by Beth James, and her death has impacted my life beyond imagination. I’m a better Christian, mom, friend, daughter, sister, employee, and so on because of her. What a beautiful day it will be when I see her again. Love y’all, Dave.
Just wanted you to know that I have been reading your blog. Words cannot express how much your writings have spoken to me. I love you brother. Will continue to lift you up. You are an inspiration to me.
Dave I received the news 2 days ago that I have another loved one that more than likely will be taken due to pancreactic cancer. I turned to God for strength, through your loving words, I found peace again. God is still using Beth’s life and death to teach us what He would have us learn. Thank you, the James family is still in our prayers every day.
My prayers are with you and your family. My wife was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and we are praying for gods wisdom and understanding.