When Things Shake You

Dear church family, 

5 years ago this week, a college friend died suddenly. He woke up not feeling well, decided to stay home to rest, and he had an aneurism later that afternoon. A Few days later he would have turned 42.  That news shook me hard. It was just another normal day. But it wasn’t. His family woke up that morning with a husband and a father and went to bed that night without him. In the blink of an eye, everything can change. Sure, I have had loss in my life and I know life is precious, but for someone my same age and stage in life to suddenly die shook me in a new way. 

It brought back up one of life’s big questions, “why do bad things happen to good people?” A question that we may have all asked. We probably wrestled with this question, trying to make sense out of the tragic and unbelievable. 

One of the things I have learned, when those bad things happen, to me or to someone I care about, is how important it is to stay connected to God. How much I need to be in community with others to ask my questions and process the emotions. 

5 years ago, I needed to stay rooted in my faith and the promises of God. Not if, but when bad days like this happen and in an instant everything changes, I know I need the strength of my rooted faith to keep me upright. 

Join us this week, online or in person as we wrestle with another one of life's big questions. Until then, I encourage you to pray for all those in our community that find themselves, bent over, asking hard questions, and wondering where God is right now. 

With gratitude,
Rodney Whitfield
Senior Pastor