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Navigating Life in a Broken World

By
Real Estate Agent with Fathom Realty West Sound WA State 52404

Disclaimer: To my faithful subscribers and readers, I apologize in advance for wandering outside the normal boundaries of real estate related content, but I find myself needing to express some thoughts I have been struggling with of late. I trust you will indulge me and allow me the grace to share my heart. Thanks!God is God, and I'm not

As is typical on most Sundays, I was attending church services at newlife kitsap, listening as my oldest son Ben played acoustic guitar and led our gathering in worship. One of the songs we sang, entitled "My Hope," was written by my friend Ed Kerr and has been recorded by well-known musician Paul Baloche. You can listen to the song HERE.

Here are the words to the song:

Nothing will change if all the plans I make are wrong, Your love stays the same.

Your light will guide me through it all, I'm hanging on, I'm leaning in to You.

Nothing can reach the end of all Your faithfulness, Your grace is with me,

through every shadow, every test, I'm hanging on, I'm leaning in to You.

I don't know where You'll take me, but I know You're always good.

My hope is built on nothing less than Your great love, Your righteousness.

I will not walk another way, I trust Your heart, I trust Your name.

I'm holding on, I'm holding on to You.

You are my rock when storms are raging all around, You shelter me God.

I'm safe with you on solid ground. I'm hanging on, I'm leaning in to You.

I don't know where You'll take me, but I know You're always good.

My hope is built on nothing less than Your great love, Your righteousness.

I will not walk another way. I trust Your heart, I trust Your name.

I'm holding on, I'm holding on to You.

As I sat there, pondering the lyrics, I was overcome with a deep sense of grief and sorrow. The tears flowed freely as I struggled to sing the words projected onto the screen.

As my gaze wandered to those standing around me, I realized that so many of the people I know are in the midst of difficult, heart-wrenching circumstances. A man whose wife has abandoned their family in a vain attempt to recapture her lost youth; a young couple desperately clinging to the hope that their recently conceived baby will be determined viable through an upcoming scan; a young man devastated that his new bride of less than a year has run off with another woman.

For me, this past year has been plagued with death. My Mom's husband, Phil, died from cancer. My Step-Dad, Stan, passed away. And my nephew, Kurt, died in a senseless accident.

And then, I thought of my friend Missy Caulk, and the horrendous series of deeply tragic events her family has recently gone through - the loss of their son, Jamie, in a fatal auto accident, the sudden death of their baby granddaughter Lilian, and the recent passing of her husband, Mike.

Such things shake us to our very core and result in more questions than there are answers. Why does God allow such tragedy to occur? How much pain and sorrow can a family endure? And to what possible end? Why is there death, pain, and suffering?

When you're living right in the middle of such hardship, your heart and mind become numb. You exist day-to-day in a zombie like maintenance mode, going through the motions, simply functioning. You wonder if a return to normal will ever be possible. And the hurt and sorrow overtake you in uncontrollable waves like an emotional vomit.

For some, it's easy to simply lash out in anger towards God, to blame Him for causing such tragedy, or faulting Him for a lack of caring intervention.

For me, my only anchor and steadfast resolve during such trials is to rely upon those things which I know with certainty to be true about God - that He is faithful and trustworthy; that He loves me with an everlasting love; that He is good; and that ultimately, He is supremely sovereign over all His creation.

I also know that we live in a broken world filled with poverty, hate, sickness, and death. It wasn't always this way. Creation started off with perfect people, living in a perfect world, in a perfect relationship with their Creator.

But man's selfish ambition and rebellion destroyed the perfect arrangement, and severed the intimate relationship we once had with God. As a result, sickness, pain, suffering, and death entered into the human experience. This wasn't God's fault. It was the consequences of man's free will and choice.

Fortunately, God did not leave us to our own devices, though as a collective humanity we certainly deserved our due. But He initiated and provided a way whereby the fallout from our rebellion could be completely eliminated, and the loving intimacy with our Heavenly Father restored.

Romans 6:23 tells us that "the wages (the payment we are due as a result of our actions) of our rebellion (sin) is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ."

As my heart breaks for Missy, her daughter Christa, and the rest of the Caulk family, I pray that they continue to cling to the Anchor of their souls.

Psalm 121 states, "I lift my eyes up, to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from You, Maker of Heaven, Creator of the Earth."

Please join me in praying for the Caulk family during this time of loss and sorrow. May God sustain them with an overwhelming flood of His Love and Grace.

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Rich Jacobson is a REALTOR® and licensed Broker with Fathom Realty. He's a Crab Hunter, Clam Digger, and Oyster Shucker, skilffuly vanquishing anything in a shell! He is the Social Media Evangelist for Life on the Kitsap Peninsula & The Western Puget Sound in scenic WA State.

Comments (16)

Elite Home Sales Team
Elite Home Sales Team OC - Corona del Mar, CA
A Tenacious and Skilled Real Estate Team

These are the storms of life and I have been through a few.  I just have learned to hang on to God and let him control the outcomes.  It does work.

Nov 20, 2011 06:31 PM
Ronald DiLalla
Century 21 Discovery DRE 01813824 - Anaheim, CA
No. Orange Cty Real Estate

Hi Rich, we all have some crosses to bear and some are larger and heavier than others.  Will pray for your intentions.....

Nov 20, 2011 06:48 PM
Paddy Deighan MBA JD PhD
http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com - Vail, CO
Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D

Your blog was moving and my thoughts and prayers are with Bob and his family is this difficult and trying time for them

Nov 20, 2011 06:52 PM
Frank Rubi
Frank Rubi Real Estate, LLC - Metairie, LA
FrankRubiRealEstate.com

Rich, moving I thought why my self lately. I was looking for an answer myself and just read Hebrew 13 "I will never leave your or forsake you". So we can say with confidence, 

The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me? 

 

Nov 20, 2011 07:01 PM
Loreena and Michael Yeo
3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX
Real Estate Agents

There are things we will never comprehend. But I know our Lord always takes care of it all.

Nov 20, 2011 10:22 PM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

Rich, I was late yesterday morning and missed Church. I too wept in sorrow for Missy's family. I spent more time than usual in my Bible study trying to find some comfort.  Thank you for your thoughtful words.

Nov 21, 2011 12:09 AM
Bryant Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time

Rich. I can't imagine the sadness that Missy's family is experiencing right now. Somethings just make no sense at all.

Tanks for sharing your thoughts.

Nov 21, 2011 12:48 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Rich- I had not heard of the most recent loss in Missy's family and my heart goes out to all of them.  Sometimes all you can do is offer prayers and support.  I've never been able to make sense of any of this. 

Nov 21, 2011 01:56 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Rich ~ Your post is heartfelt and expresses beautifully the heartbreak of others' unspeakable losses.  The tragedies we are asked to accept are so hard to understand.   The only thing that seems to make it less painful is the passing of time.  I've lost far too many members of my family and hold out hope that one day, we'll meet again. 

Nov 21, 2011 08:39 AM
TERI LINDSAY
Reno, NV
STAGELIGHT HOME STAGING CO.

It's up to each of us, individually, to create a belief about ourself, why we are here, find our purpose, and understand the meaning of faith. I believe I am spiritual in nature, I am God's masterpiece physically, and my purpose is to know my own nature, share love and kindness with others, live knowing right from wrong, and to have compassion for others less fortunate, and to be willing to help who I can. We had a "before-life", we go back home after this life, and our loved ones are there to Light The Way. Thanks for your heartfelt post and sharing your feelings.....

Nov 21, 2011 06:06 PM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®
Lifting the family up in prayer to the Great Comforter. Also praying for eyes that may read this post and may not be saved. That they will realize their need for a Saviour and come to know him through these words. God is GREAT... Especially through the tough times.
Nov 22, 2011 10:28 AM
Rene Fabre
ARFCO Media - Renton, WA
Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts

Rich: I've had my ups and downs and my losses too, but this is one I can hardly comprehend. For sure my prayers and love go to Bob and the Caulk family. 

Nov 23, 2011 09:35 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

You're apologizing for that?  Well, you and I both know there is no need for that when we want to show a bit of transparency...a bit of us as human beings. Your articulate style of writing always drew me in along with your wonderful informaton and such. This one had your heart and soul in it and just as you ...I am heartbroken for their loss to say the least. I often had these same questions and even I even thought it selfish to relish in the joy of my grandson. It took but Bob's mom to give me a little 'advice' and snapped me out of it because it is bitter sweet. One life is born and another taken...and we have no answers. I watched the slideshow Matthew Caulk made to the very end for both his brother and niece...Celebrating their lives is the best we can do. I thank you ...for sharing your deepest thoughts.

Nov 26, 2011 02:15 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Rich, God uses death, which one day we will all face to teach us what is important in our perspective. Psalms 39:4-5 says life on earth is but a breath. But life is eternal, we will see Jamie and Lillian again and what a happy day that will be. We mourn and grief still on earth for those who have the priviledge of going HOME before us, but we grieve with hope. 

Love you! 

Missy

Dec 01, 2011 11:20 PM
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker

Missy:  Your words here offer such amazing encouragement and serve to strengthen my own faith. Grieving with hope. There is no better way to convey it. I am still in awe of what all God has done in people's hearts & lives through all of these painful events. I will continue to pray for you and the rest of your family. I love you and care about you all so very much!

Dec 02, 2011 06:03 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Glad I had subscribed to this and got the update. 

What you said here is so true," When you're living right in the middle of such hardship, your heart and mind become numb. You exist day-to-day in a zombie like maintenance mode, going through the motions, simply functioning. You wonder if a return to normal will ever be possible. And the hurt and sorrow overtake you in uncontrollable waves like an emotional vomit. "

The book of Job has especially comforted me during the last 2 years. 

Even in the midst of great sadness God is still on the throne, and loves us. One day we will see and know his purpose. 

Pray for my kids, very hard for all of them. Lvoe you!

 

 

Sep 14, 2013 10:55 PM