Yesterday marked the two-year anniversary of the passing of a dear friend.
As my mind wandered back to my life two years ago I can really see how God weaved Himself in, through, and all around. I had no idea Kristen’s life and death would cause me to wrestle with such difficult faith questions. But I also had no idea I would learn and grow so much.
As I reflected back, this one simple phrase kept running through my head, “This is life” – which is a special phrase for two reasons:
1. This really is life.
Life is all about facing ups and downs and all-arounds with determination to find the lesson, to stand in Christ’s strength, to keep the faith, to evolve more and more into His likeness, and to never stop persevering.
From this present day to the day we each say goodbye, we are to live knowing, believing and claiming that He is over, under, in, out, up, down, and all around.
No matter what we face, this is life. He is life.
2. It’s a song Kristen recorded before she died.
A year before Kristen passed away she released an album called Songs from Home. On the album she recorded a song with this very title: “This is Life.” I was immediately reminded of a silly little video her sister Kennedy posted to Facebook of the sisters singing this song together. I tracked it down. Watched it over and over. And I sobbed listening to her sing, “I bring my sickness I leave healed.” Unbeknownst to anyone, Kristen would pass away eight short months following the recording of this video, yet, she never wavered. She lived day after day claiming God’s promises for her life. And while it’s hard to understand why God didn’t heal her physical body, her testimony to keep the faith inspired thousands.
And isn’t that the point – to praise Him regardless?
The Christian life is about praising Him, serving Him, loving Him, believing Him, trusting Him, and standing on His promises that He is over, under, in, out, up, down, and all around.
No matter what we face, this is life. He is life.
Kristen believed this. She lived this. She declared this. And she helped me cement this truth in my own heart, mind and soul. I pray she inspires you with the same message today as well.
“This is Life” by Kristen Fersovitch & Kennedy Ramirez:
Eyes can’t see the way you hold me
Or how I’m hidden in your heart
Minds don’t know what you have told me
Or how I ache for where you are
It’s invisible to the world
Incredible to the angels
Not since Eden have they seen this sight
It’s everlasting life
Because you are all over
You are around me
You are inside
This is life
This is life
I come in empty I leave filled
I bring my sickness I leave healed
I’m broken-hearted you mend every piece
I come in captive I leave free
Because you are all over
You are around me
You are inside
This is life
This is life.
