A year ago today my brother, Derek, and my sister-in-law , Tina, lost their baby at about 33 weeks along in their pregnancy. I am 33 weeks along this week and cannot imagine losing our baby. It was devastating and still is. After they discovered the baby had stopped living, Tina was induced and gave birth to a beautiful little girl. They named her Lizzie Marie Horner. How do people move on after such tragedy? They had so much hope for little Lizzie and the life they’d share together. It has been a hard road for Derek and Tina. Tragedy happens. There is no reason. I do not believe it was part of “God’s plan.” It’s just part of living in this fallen world filled with sin, disease, suffering and death. But there is hope.

Jesus came to defeat sin and death. He conquered death and rose from the grave. In Christ we have hope for a fullness of life today and the confident assurance (hope) of what’s to come after death. I look forward to meeting my niece in Heaven. I trust that little Lizzie is surrounded with love and peace. Derek and Tina have this hope available to them: hope that they may one day reunite with their daughter, and daily hope that they are not alone as they walk through the trials in this life.

We are not promised a pain-less, tragedy free life. We are promised that He will never leave nor forsake us. We are promised inner-peace in the midst of an unpredictable world filled with sin and suffering. We are told that this world is not our home, and that we are aliens in a strange land. We are not meant to feel too cozy here. We are meant to keep things in an eternal perspective. We are meant to live out this life for our King. We can walk through this life and proclaim boldly that no matter what life brings… whether it be a test or trial from the enemy or the Lord, or just a random part of living in a fallen world…no matter what hardships I may face, I will follow my King. My allegiance is to Jesus and nothing will change that.

“Jesus Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!” Stanley turns 2 this week and I have him trained to say “Jesus is King.” He places a HUGE emphasis on “King.” Jesus is the King of Kings. He defeated sin and death and gives us HOPE for a full life today as well as an eternity with Him, where there are no more tears, no more death, no more pain. Alleluiah to King Jesus, the good King who is our Comfort and Hope.