One of the Spanish members of our church recently underwent cancer surgery. The very same weekend, she came to church and sang a song of God’s goodness with her husband. After the song she witnessed about how our loving Father had been her strong tower during these difficult times and that she truly had nothing to fear. She also gave her heartfelt thanks to her “fan”, the one who had always been at her side throughout it all: her daughter. As I glanced up to where her daughter was sitting, I noticed tears rolling down her cheeks.

The Sunday after January 12, 2010, the day Haiti was decimated by the 7.0 earthquake, one of our Haitian members who had still many family members and friends in his home country stepped forth and sang in front of the congregation: “C’est merveilleux, c’est admirable” (How wonderful, how marvelous), praising God with all of his heart, for God is truly bigger than all of the circumstances.

Two testimonies, from people born in two different parts of the world, but both having the same message: Our God is faithful even amidst our worst circumstances.

Too often we forget that we are just passing through this life: “They are not of the world any more than I am of the world… They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” (John 17:14, 16 NIV)

“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” (1 Peter 2:11 NIV)

We are on a mission and our real home cannot be found on any GPS location on this planet. If we face death, fear does not fill our soul. On the contrary, we become excited! We are going home, where our heart belongs!

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” (Phil 1:21-24 NIV)

This hope that awaits us motivates us, and no circumstances, no matter how grim they may be, will keep us from praising the One who always stands at our side.

What do we really have to lose?

Rob Chaffart


(To access the entire “Awake!” devotional series, please click here.)