I had the privilege of speaking at a memorial service for Leah (Sampson) Bean this past Saturday in Priest River, Idaho.  She grew up in the church I pastored and attended our Christian School and youth group and then obtained a teaching degree at Whitworth and had been teaching in Priest River, Idaho. Her dad, Ray, had been my “right-hand-man” at Three Lakes Community Bible Church. His family has always been a great encouragement to us and really came alongside to encourage us in dealing with the demands of pastoring a church.  I also officiated at the wedding for Leah and Russ on June 23rd, 1995. Leah passed away just two days before their 30th anniversary. 

    It was an honor to be part of celebrating the life of Leah, who, at age 51, went to be with her loving Savior after battling cancer for a number of years.  We were invited to come over to Priest River on Friday for a birthday celebration for Russ and Leah’s son William who just turned 16. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed fellowship with Russ and with Leah’s mother and siblings and a number of Russ and Leah’s close Christian friends who were there to support in the time of need. It was such a blessing to see how the family of God rallies around those who are hurting, to bring comfort and encouragement. We are so glad we are part of the family of God!

     We also got to spend Friday evening with the family and a Christian neighbor invited us all over to sit around a campfire and to share memories. Someone said, “You don’t know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”  Well, we had lots of memories to share. 

     Leah’s sister, Laura, shared a beautiful eulogy of Leah’s life, expressing how she had such love for her family, her students and for those around her. I shared a letter Leah had written to her pastor after he gave a message on suffering. She said that she never felt that God was “unjustly punishing her,” but that, in fact, she felt “a little spoiled by Him” for all the grace He showed her.  She expressed her view–based on her own personal experience–of why God allows suffering. She said, “It gives us a chance to trust Him and to really see His heart for us, His extravagant love for us, and His eagerness to meet us in those places where we feel like we have nothing left to carry us forward. Those are the places God hangs out, waiting for us to find Him there and to submit to Him.” (And she did!). Another reason she suggested is “to give others a chance to be His hands and feet” in ministering to someone during their “moment of darkness.”  She had experienced that too as people reached out to her in her time of need (see II Cor. 1:3-6). The last reason she listed was: “Will I trust God with the darkness? Will I trust Him if His answer disappoints and leaves me with sorrow and loss in this life here?”

     Well, we know the answer to Leah’s question. Yes, she did continue trusting, no matter what God chose for her.  She said, “Blaming God or getting angry at Him wasn’t really on my radar.”  The reason was, Leah, who at kindergarten age had trusted Christ as her Savior, had great confidence in the Word of God and trusted in the character of God–both of which are unchanging (Isa. 40:8; Mal. 3:6). Leah experienced the hope that is unique to those who have Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord of their lives. Leah’s confidence in God’s Word was demonstrated by the verses she had posted above their bed as a reminder day and night of the faithfulness of God. The verses were Psa. 34:15,17-19. Check them out!. 

     Our hope as believers is not just wishful thinking, as the term is most often used in the secular world, but a deep-seated expectation and assurance based on the promises of God and the nature of God. The Bible calls it a sure and steadfast hope that we have as “an anchor for the soul” (Heb. 6:19).  It is anchored in Jesus Christ, who is our rock and our salvation (See Psa. 39:7; 62:5,6). Peter refers to it as a “living hope” that is based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:3,4). Paul calls it a “blessed hope” that is connected to the promise Jesus made to return for His own that we might be with Him forever (Jn. 14:1-3; Tit. 2:13). 

     By God’s design, our hope actually grows through adversity and suffering, for it is then that we really learn to lean on Him and thus experience, as did Leah, His grace in a very special way. That’s why Paul wrote: “…we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance, and perseverance proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint…” (Ro. 5:3-5).  I am reminded of the song by Annie Johnson Flint, “He Giveth More Grace,” which says, “He giveth more grace when the burden grows greater, He sendeth more strength when the labors increase; to added affliction, He addeth His mercy, to multiplied trials His multiplied peace.” For, “His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His pow’r has no boundary known unto men; for out of His infinite riches in Jesus He giveth and giveth and giveth again.” 

     As we spent time with a family that had just lost a mother, wife, daughter and sister, we witnessed that amazing, abundant grace of God. We saw the love of those that God sent to be a comfort and support. We came away very blessed and full of praise to the “God of all comfort,” the “God of hope.” That is why, as followers of Jesus Christ, we naturally grieve for we miss those that God has taken from us, but we “don’t grieve as those who have no hope” for we await (probably very soon) a great reunion when “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. (And) Then those who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (I Thes. 4:13,16-18). 

Forever His,

Pastor Dave N

     “And now may the God of Hope fill you all with joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Ro. 15:13).