Imagine hearing these words:
“Mr. DeLoach, I am sorry to inform you that your daughter, Abbie, was involved in a car accident and did not survive the trauma.” These heartbreaking words were also spoken to four other families on that same day. Along with my Abbie, Caitlyn Baggett, Morgan Bass, Emily Clark, and McKay Pittman would not arrive at their final Nursing Clinic in Savannah, GA, on April 22, 2015. They were all students from Georgia Southern University.
Anyone who knows me knows I am a person of faith, which means I believe that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent. I’ll be honest: as I began my walk with God, I had to consult the dictionary to truly understand the definition of these intimidating words and how they define my faith.
- An omnipotent being has the power to prevent evil from coming into existence
- An omniscient being knows every way in which evils can come into existence and knows every way in which those evils could be prevented
- Omnibenevolent is God’s unlimited outpouring of goodwill toward mankind
Only God can possess these supernatural powers, so it stands to reason that it’s difficult for the average human being to truly grasp how He is working in our lives. Therefore, it’s difficult to fully comprehend this verse from the Bible:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
This was also Abbie’s favorite scripture verse – I find that very ironic.
It’s fully my choice to wrap my mind, my heart, my soul, and my future around this verse, or to simply dismiss this ideology as a myth or fairytale. Of course, I choose faith.
I’d like to share with you my reasons for believing in God, even through the loss of Abbie and her classmates:
- The promise of a reunion with Abbie and to know her without ever losing her again
“King David had a son who died in infancy. When the little boy died, David said, ‘I’ll go to him’” (2 Samuel 12:23).
- The discovery of a pathway to use my pain and suffering to benefit others
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20).
- My agony led me to seek God more
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12: 8-9).
God called my Abbie home. In doing so, He called me to action – He called me closer to Him.
What are your reasons for believing in God? Something to think about.
Live Inspired,
Jimmy
Ed says
Thanks for sharing your story!
I’m sure your heart broke that day and miss Abbie every hour.
The story though provides the hope we as believers in Jesus .
We will be together again. Can you imagine that day?
See you there.