I have been devastated about the murder of the pastor's wife
and continuously praying that the guilty would be found and charged to the
fullest extent. I read this morning that they had 3 men in custody and that the
one who murdered her also raped her. I am furious for her family and when I
read that, while I knew in my heart that God is still in control in spite of
the evil that is running rampant in this world, I heard myself questioning the
entire situation. I felt anger and confusion and my flesh wanted to think
things such as "why even live life the way a Christian is commanded to
live when our own can't even be protected by this madness?" Then as I
thought on it all day, I began to feel guilty but I still couldn't feel peace
about the situation and my mind was ferociously trying to wander away from me.
But then I read this article with Davey Blackburn's statement and it was
everything that I needed to read to at least help me to see that it is natural
for our flesh to not understand WHY ("why" is the biggest thing that
I struggle with), and that our flesh will automatically feel anger, hate, and
bitterness toward these vile humans who commit such atrocious acts BUT we can
CHOOSE the route of forgiveness, grace, and hope!!! We, as humans, WILL feel
every range of emotion when these acts of evil occur BUT as Davey learned from
his wife, we MUST choose to not allow our emotions drive our decisions! As I
was reading this and coming to a much better understanding on several things in
my walk as a Christian, I couldn't help but imagine how the rest of the world
who has not been born again through Christ Jesus must feel watching not just
any Christian, but a pastor's wife, be ruthlessly murdered and wondering things
such as "well where was this god that they serve at?" and my heart
was crushed all over again. To anyone reading this that are not Christians,
please read Davey's statement and allow yourself to feel the love from our God
that Davey has been able to feel even in spite of the circumstances he is currently
living in. I don't believe we will ever know on this side of eternity why this
happened but I do know that if you will give your whole self to Jesus, you will
have a peace and a love that you have never had before. A peace that comes from
knowing NO MATTER what happens on THIS side of eternity, there is a Heaven
prepared and waiting for us where evil will be NO more, where sickness and
cancer will be no more, where heartache and devastation will be no more. A
Heaven where we will no longer have to wonder WHY because I believe in my heart
that as we enter eternity, we will finally be able to see all of the good that
came out of our suffering, all of the people's lives who were positively
affected by the negative suffering we endured!! And furthermore, there is a
Heaven where Amanda Blackburn will not have to endure the torment from the evil
that came against her and where she will be preciously awaiting the arrival of
her husband and child and the rest of her family while already holding the
child she was carrying! I believe that with my entire heart and I truly believe
that while the evil may feel like they prevailed through the murder of a
pastor's wife, they will soon come to see that SO many souls who have been
affected by this newstory in a different way than any other story, have had a new
heart given to them from Christ Jesus!!
Read Davey's statement here: http://www.waff.com/story/30582255/arrest-made-in-amanda-blackburn-homicide-case?clienttype=generic
1 Peter 4: 12
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
