We’d love nothing more than to have our son, Jordan Watts, back. But, I remember something Jordan said in a video that was played at his Memorial Service: “If God were to take all my fingers away I would love him just the same.” (Jordan was an artist and his hands were his life.)

Jordan’s love for Christ has forced me to come to terms with my own faith. The question I’ve been forced to answer is: “If God were to take my son away would I love Him just the same?” My answer: I do. I love You, Lord. Help me when I’m weak, angry, exhausted, and lost. I trust You. You have Jordan. I know this to be true. I love you.

What about you? Can you say, “If God took away (fill in the blank) I would love Him just the same.”? Standing next to ten fresh graves, Job said, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (1:21)

These are the hard, messy questions of Christianity. It’s what Bonhoeffer described as “costly grace.” Anyone can sing the songs, and preach the sermons when life is good. But, what about when life is so painful you can hardly breath?

Thank God for the cross and the empty tomb – through which “we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Cor. 4:16) “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25)  nick