The flames were still leaping from the windows of the small house as firemen and police officers scurried in every direction. A young couple with three small children lived inside. Two firemen ran out of the house towards the waiting ambulance clutching one of the children. Another child was already inside the vehicle along with his mother. The third child, a baby was still inside the house.

As the ambulance sped away with sirens blaring toward the nearby hospital, I followed knowing my place needed to be with the family. I found the young mother by herself in the waiting room and sat with her while helping contact her husband who had gone to work earlier that morning. During that time, a doctor entered and solemnly informed her of the loss of their baby who died at the scene. Thirty minutes later a nurse came to break the news her next youngest son also died.

In just a few short moments this poor young woman lost two of her three precious children.

She asked to visit her child. What could they say? We walked down the hall into bay three of the emergency room. The curtain was drawn to give us privacy. The mother tenderly picked up her little boy who merely looked asleep and soothingly cradled him in her arms as she began to sing his favorite lullaby. The nurse, overcome, ran out of the room crying but the mother seemed oblivious as she gently combed her child's hair with her fingers and continued quietly singing.

Years later, I still vividly remember the scene.

When tragedy occurs we ask: Where is God? There is no easy answer but I found comfort in Isaiah's words from God:

"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you." (Isaiah 43:1)

God was there as people in the community gathered to pray, offer comfort and provide temporary shelter for the family:

"When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown!" (Isaiah 43:2)

God was there as our church helped provide clothing, appliances, furniture and even money toward a scholarship fund for the surviving son:

"When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." (Isaiah 43:2)

Is this a perfect ending?

God was even there as I went back to the charred ruins of their house looking for mementos that might have survived the fire. Everything was destroyed, or so I thought. But, on the coffee table in the living room amidst a smoldering pile of ashes lay a family Bible. Other than a few burn marks on the cover, the Bible was in nearly perfect condition. A fireman came by, whistled softly in amazement, and said, "Larry, nothing should have survived this."

Isaiah continues:

"For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." (Isaiah 43:3)

Two Hearts Praying as One by Dennis and Barbara Rainey "Praying together may be the single most important spiritual discipline you and your spouse will ever share," say the Raineys--it reduces conflicts and safeguards marriages from divorce.

Larry Davies is a used-car salesman turned preacher. He serves at Timberlake UMC, and is the author of several books and the online devotional site Sowing Seeds of Faith.

More Heartlight Feeds

Get Heartlight articles and devotionals by email FREE every day! Daily Heartlight Today's Verse What Jesus Did! Quotemeal

More Information