The marker said "In Loving Memory of Amanda Renee Knight - February 21, 1985 to July 3, 2009."  It was the first thing I saw as I entered Knight's Topper Outlet in West Branch to meet with Brad Knight, one of our ministry partners yesterday morning.

Brad told me that she died of a rare form of cancer just three months after he walked her down the aisle to give her hand away in marriage. I viewed a few of the pictures of what appeared to be a happy wedding celebration.  Who knew that the hopeless sense of tragic loss was to befall them in the weeks that would follow?  Brad shared with me how many times he has asked God why did this have to happen.  It is not an uncommon question to ask and usually, I have found, there are no easy answers to the question.


In spite of the pain, Brad shared with me how comforted he was that Amanda had given her heart to Jesus when she was only 10 years old.  Then he looked at me, paused a few seconds and said simply, "Do you know how much comfort that brings to me?"  I could tell that knowing she was secure in the arms of Christ has meant everything to the Knight family.  Indeed, how comforting this great news is that we can know our eternal destiny no matter what befalls us. Thanks for sharing with me Brad. My prayers are with you and your family.

I am constantly amazed that God's people are always strong enough to face the worst of life's tragic events when they rely on the mighty power of our God to hold and sustain them. Matthew West's song "Strong Enough" is a testimony of this power.  I couldn't help but think of the words to the chorus as I left yesterday.   How true that though we don't know what the future holds, we DO KNOW who holds the future!

If you are facing tragedy this day, I hope that you will read the chorus of Matthew's song as a prayer, and like the Knight family, that you find peace, comfort, and uncommon strength in trusting a God who loves you very much.

"Strong Enough Chorus" by Matthew West

I know I'm not strong enough to be
everything that I'm supposed to be
I give up I'm not strong enough
Hands of mercy won't you cover me
Lord right now I'm asking you to be
Strong enough
Strong enough
For the both of us Watch "Strong Enough" on You Tube now.