When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee; and throught the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest throught the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle thee. Isaiah 43:2
In the last Issue I wrote and asked for prayer, not just for me but for the family of a close friend of mine also. On July 26th a very close friend of mine, Kate Campbell, went home to her Saviour. She was on her way to work when a car swerved into her lane, she was killed instantly. The other driver is still in ICU with severe head injuries and is not expected to recover.
Kate's funeral was the following Wednesday, and Graveside Service was Thursday. I went Friday and spent a few days with the family at the request of the younger daughter Abby ( 17). In a way I had tried to convince myself that it didn't really happen, that some how it was a mistake, even at the funeral and graveside service. But then I walked into their house and it hit me full in the face. It was true. I had felt as though I was walking in a fog or dream, but the reality of what happened hit me then. Besides feeling Kate's absence there was a feeling of total calm and peace in the house, with the family. The prayer at meals was to help them get through this time.
I had heard stories where the support was just amazing. But this, this was awesome, I got to see it first hand. Letter's, card's and money came from all over the state, much from people the Campbell's didn't know. But what was more awesome was that many people told stories of Kate. One letter spoke of how her life had been such an encouragement to a young man. Others said they had never really known Kate, but that they had met her a time or two and were so impressed by her faith.
I was amazed, both at the outpouring of love and support form friends and the faith of the family. I realized later that the love and support shown was also a show of God's love.
I was looking up a reference to Psalm 23 and found the verse form Isaiah. Later a friend sent the same verse to me. I have struggled with what has happend quite a bit, so this verse became quite precious to me. It doesn't promise that we won't go through the fire
or water, But, it does promise that God will be with us, that he will not allow the fire to burn us or the water to overcome us. He is with us always. Always!
That God may be glorified,
AprilRose Pilgrim