Maybe it’s a function of our getting older, but we seem to have had a lot of deaths among our circle of friends and family, including June’s cousin Steve passing away suddenly at age 58 to Sally Dennis at age 90.

Sunday our pastor was talking about suffering and told the story of his wife’s brother who was in El Salvador a number of years ago during a particularly violent period. The brother’s roommate was killed…the brother lived. In answer to the question, “Where was God during that time?” our pastor quoted Jonathan Evans, son of well-known pastor Tony Evans, whose wife, Lois (Jonathan’s mother), passed away last December. Jonathan also asked that question, augmented with, “We prayed the promises…people around the world were praying…” Here’s a snippet of what Jonathan sensed God telling him. You can read all of it here.

There were always only two answers to your prayers—either she was going to be healed or she was going to be healed. Either she was going to live or she was going to live. Either she was going to be with family or she was going to be with family. Either she was going to be well taken care of or she was going to be well taken care of. Victory belongs to Me because of what I’ve already done for you. The two answers to your prayer are yes and yes. Because victory belongs to Jesus. -Jonathan Evans on what he heard from God

While listening to our pastor read these lines, I wrote down two names: one, Pam, a lady about our age, one of June’s adult piano students, who had the last two years or so transitioned more to discipleship conversations than piano lessons. She was diagnosed with serious cancer after a fall last August. The other is the 82-year-old mother of a good friend of mine diagnosed with COVID-19. Two days later, Pam was gone. (My friend’s mother is still doing fine!)

Some recover. Some don’t. In Acts 12, James is martyred, Peter lives. But the good news is, for believers it’s a win either way.

For 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. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith… (Philippians 1.22 – 25, NIV)

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”…But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15.54, 55, 57, NIV)