What am I going to do without my mom?
The thought swirled around in my mind as I guided my car along a blackened 405 freeway. I was on my way to Lancaster, California—driving, asking, and praying.
Earlier that evening, I had come home from work and received a call from my younger sister, who reported that emergency personnel were rendering aid to my mother. Her trembling voice unveiled her growing fear as she kept me abreast of the situation. As her words darted back and forth, my heart rose and sank like a tide. I thought, The Lord can bring her through this. He had done it before. In the end, I was grateful for the effort to save her; however, my bobbing hopes finally sank. My mother died.
Everything changed that night, but Jesus was always with me. While my hands desperately clenched the steering wheel on that uphill drive, I felt an overwhelming warmth. Immediately, I sensed that Jesus covered me with a blanket of love and compassion. The pain of grief and shock was lessened by His comfort. It was as if He said, “I know, and I am here.” In hindsight, only my all-knowing Savior could understand such a significant loss.
In the days to come, the Lord continued to comfort me directly and through others. Jesus soothed me with a peace that lulled me to sleep and then carried me through my days. He led me to Scriptures that reminded me of His faithfulness and love. I was touched by the care and concern from church members and family friends. The cards, messages, and phone calls lifted me inside.
In our times of questioning, we don’t have the answers that our hearts long for. We want to make sense of things. The truth is that we can’t figure it all out. We fail when relying on our own reasoning. Jesus provides strength and holds us up in ways that we can’t think of or imagine. He does this with His power and Spirit. He knows all things and prescribes care specifically for each of us.
In whatever you may be facing, take comfort in knowing that the ultimate Comforter, Jesus, can strengthen you. He can do the impossible for you.
Kristen is a writer.