This year a number of my close friends have suffered losses that are difficult to endure.

When Gwen walked into my life so many years ago I felt in many ways as if my life had just begun. In many respects that was true.

When God called her home six years ago it seemed for a time that my life was over. I was wrong about that. My feelings overwhelmed me at the time and rendered me incapable of imagining the incredible plans that God had in store. I’m sorry to say that I have to admit that I wasn’t certain God could place meaning in my life again that made it worth getting up each morning.

Some of you are there today. I know because I attended funerals for your loved ones this year. Each Christmas I talk about the difficulties the holiday season brings. Perhaps it’s because there are so many wonderful memories attached to those whom we have lost. Perhaps it’s simply the aching in our hearts for missing someone so much that it’s hard to get up in the mornings, hard to face the bright lights of the holiday season, and a hard to smile and say Merry Christmas when our hearts are broken.

I was asked this year by a dear friend as we stood at the front of the church during his wife’s funeral if it gets any easier. I respect him too much to lie to him, so I told him no, it doesn’t. But praise be to God, his grace truly is sufficient to get me through the worst of days, and to remember that regardless of the pain I feel his plan is best. I may not understand. I may not choose it, but I can know that it is best.

God is sovereign.  He does nothing without great purpose.