A year ago, pastor Greg Laurie's oldest son, whom he passionately loved, was killed in a car accident. Greg experienced that unspeakable pain, that unconsolable loss. He knew all of the right things to say and what to think, but the pain was greater than he expected, the loss was deeper and more permanent and more pervasive than he ever imagined. The why questions continued to flood his mind.
God has taken that tragedy and used it to help Greg better understand heaven and our stewardship on this earth. The pain is still heavy, but the hope is also there. God is using Greg's authentic and unshakable hope through that loss to draw many more people into the Kingdom of God. As a result of that loss, heaven is expanding and hell is shrinking.
1 Corin. 1:3-4: "the Father of mercies and God of all comfort . . . comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction" with the comfort that we receive from God. (ESV) Greg has hope. He knows his son is better off. He knows his son is rejoicing. He knows that it will be but a moment in eternity and he will see his son again as if they were never separated.
That kind of hope can't be bought with money. It can't be thought into existence with intellect. It can't be earned with hard work. That kind of hope can only come from the God of all comfort. That kind of hope is contagious. That kind of hope shines in the darkness and nothing can put it out. The world only offers despair and hopelessness.
So, how does God want to use pain in your life to display His hope, to communicate His comfort, to let His light shine in the darkness? Who in your world needs to see that hope and experience God's comfort?
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