Cancer.
I had expected something minor, something treatable. Instead, I was told my beloved dog has a tumor and a cancer that will probably kill him.
The diagnosis hit hard and began to painfully chip at my heart, preparing it to shatter when the end comes, far sooner than I had expected.
The apparent injustice of the diagnosis strangled me. He’s healthy and happy. He should have many more years to enjoy life. He’s only five years old. He’s too young to die.
And the root of the pain, the devastating truth that threatened to bury me—I need him for longer.
Fear clawed on the back of my grief. How will I face this? I can’t watch him suffer. I can’t see him change and be destroyed by the disease that will take him from me.
I’m not going to make it. The pain is too great for me to bear.
I’ve been here before. I’ve lost others I loved before they “should” have died. I’ve witnessed friends battle grief over their two toddler sons being diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. People I care about are told they have Multiple Sclerosis when in their twenties. Young children of friends get lymphoma.
One thing I have learned from painful circumstances in the past is that God will get me through in the end. He will sustain me and carry me to the other side eventually. Praise Him, I don’t actually doubt that anymore.
But I do fear what comes before that rescue. I dread the pain that immediately grips me, that I know will only grow stronger. I doubt that I will be able to withstand what lies ahead.
The first night after the dreadful diagnosis, I couldn’t go to sleep. Sobs wracked my body with an unstoppable stream of tears. In the midst of my heart’s screams, the pleading with God and the “why” that my sob-clogged throat couldn’t let out, the Holy Spirit prompted an answering question in my soul.
Do you trust Me with this precious one?
My weeping slowed, stopped. The tears paused, a few finishing their trek down my cheeks as my mind dwelled on that most vital, convicting, and gently chastening question.
Somehow, it’s easier to see why God lets such tragedies happen when they happen to someone else. But when they happen to me, that perspective is much harder to attain.
I keep thinking that my experiences with death, even tragic early deaths, should make me better able to handle the next bad news when it comes. I hope that will someday be true.
But so far, each new reason for grief that strikes is just different enough from the ones before that I grapple with the same questions, doubts, and fears all over again.
Until God patiently steps in to teach my heart, once more, the lessons already learned.
Do you trust me even with this loved one?
That question pulled back the veil in my soul, revealing the truth my grief had hidden from me.
I’ve written about this truth right here on the Fear Warrior Blog. God is perfect (Is. 45:21). God is always good (Ps. 31:19). His love never fails (Ps. 138:8). He is always in complete control of everything that happens (Matthew 10:29). God has a good and perfect plan for each of our lives that He promises to bring to completion down to the very last detail (Jer. 29:11 and Phil. 1:6).
But the fact is that I’d identified only certain things I could trust Him with. Things in my past are easier now to trust Him with, looking back and seeing how He worked through tough times. Circumstances that happen to others are easier for me to look at and say, “God will bring good through that.” I recognize with some phobias and fears that the key to defeating them is real faith in God.
If events were to happen in my future that were exactly the same as those that happened in my past, through which I learned to trust God, I could probably have faith in Him the next time.
But a new challenge. A new devastation. An unexpected blow to a vulnerable spot in my heart.
These leave me reeling like a boat without an anchor. I want God’s peace and help, but I can’t feel His presence or comfort. I question why He’s allowing this to happen, and part of me, despite everything I know to be true, resents Him for bringing me such pain.
To be clear, death is bad. Death is a consequence of sin. We should grieve in the face of it.
God created us to be eternal beings without death. And now, because of Jesus’s perfect life and sacrificial death on the cross for us, we needn’t fear death. He paid the penalty for our sins. Death has no victory (1 Cor. 15:55).
But we should grieve the taste of death in this life, recognizing it as the consequence of sin, the enemy of life. We recognize the loss we will experience through that death while we remain here on Earth. Jesus Himself wept at the death of His friend Lazarus, though He knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead moments later (John 11:35).
So grieve. Believe me, my tears still flow. But don’t grieve as I was doing that night—like those who have no hope (1 Thes. 4:13), like those who have something to fear.
The question in my soul had only one right answer.
Do you trust me even with this precious one?
Yes.
That is grieving as those who have hope.
My God is faithful. His will be done.
It is well with my soul.
Are you grieving? Is there a loved one or circumstance that you need to trust God with? Please share so we can encourage one another!
Comments 14
I’m so sorry you and your precious dog are going through this. You’ll both be in my thoughts and prayers.
Author
Thanks, Patricia. I appreciate your prayers! God is good.
There is so much power in the post. The question–Do you trust me with this loved one?–and the observation about how we seem to need to relearn trust in each new challenge, and even the acknowledgement that death is something to grieve. That last one maybe seems obvious, but I think sometimes we get to thinking that we can’t grieve when we trust God, and that’s not the case. Thank you for this post and, of course, you’re in my prayers.
Author
I’m so glad this post resonated with you, Emily. (Thanks for the encouragement to write it!) I know these are important truths that I need to be reminded of repeatedly, especially in times like this, and I pray writing of them will help remind someone else who needs to hear them, too. Thanks for joining the conversation, and for your prayers!
I am grieving the loss of my marriage which to me is like a death if the dreams we made together. I know God has a plan. I believe in miracles & the desire of my heart is to not lose my marriage. I will believe God to be with me either way.
Author
Patty, I am so sorry to hear of your grievous loss of a marriage. I know that can feel like one of the most painful deaths of all. Praise the Lord that He is enabling you to stay strong in your faith during this difficult time. I know that will get you through and He will life you up again, bringing good out of this pain somehow. I’ll pray for you as you deal with this loss. Thank you so much for sharing your heart and struggle. May God give you peace and comfort during this time.
Jerusha, so sorry to hear about your dog! I can relate in some ways to the grief you feel.
Thank you for having the courage to step out in faith to write about this difficulty. Trust in God during challenging circumstances is something that I’ve been struggling with lately — it was good to be reminded that He is a good and faithful God, even when we don’t understand.
I’ll be praying that God will pour out His grace in your life, and fill you with His peace and comfort during this time.
Author
Thanks so much, Beth, for your prayers! I’m so thankful these reminders benefited you, as well. Thanks for reading and commenting! 🙂
I’m praying that you can bury your face in his fur and enjoy the days left to the two of you. Pre-grief is every bit as hard as (or harder than) the grief of a loved one gone.
Author
You’re so right, Wendy. This stage is really tough, too. We’re told his end will be sudden and soon. I’m thankful the Lord gave us warning so we can savor every moment we have remaining with him. Thank you so much for your prayers.
Jerusha, I’m so sorry about your dog. I don’t know what the circumstance is like now, but I’ll be praying for you. I’ve been there. It hurts so much. They are family, you know.
And I love your website.
Author
Thank you so much for your understanding and your prayers, Shelli. We’re still going through this journey, thankfully as the Lord leads and strengthens us.
Oh Jerusha, I’m so sorry. Praying for you and your sweet Lancelot.
Author
Thank you, Angie! Your prayers are very much appreciated! He’s actually doing really well right now, feeling great and enjoying life without significant pain. We’re so thankful for that, however long God gives us.