god is amazing

the past month has been filled with events that the world would have a hard time seeing the hand of god in. just after christmas a good friend of ours was involved in a car accident. he was a passenger in a car that was hit by a wrong-way driver. the driver of his car (an 18 year-old girl) was killed, as was the wrong-way driver (21 years old) and our friend was pretty seriously injured (burns, fractures, collapsed lung, cuts, etc). at first glance one might ask "where was god in this?" well, i'll tell you where god was. he was in every detail. the accident happened just past a CHP building (an officer actually heard the accident and ran out to the highway and pulled greg away from the car). greg's hand was on fire and suffered severe burns. however, oddly enough, doctors say it was most likely his burning hand that woke him in the first place, allowing him to escape the burning vehicle. the friend of gregs was a believer and is now with her savior. so while most might question god in this, greg, and many of his friends (including me), see god's hand in all of this and his perfect will even though it is a hard situation.
while we rejoice over the recovery of greg, sorrow strikes another friend. saturday, january 23rd, a 27-year old friend of ours from church suffered a heart attack. although pronounced dead by the firefighters, god was not quite ready to take her either. she "came back" and was rushed to the hospital. at first the prognosis was not good, 5% chance of full recovery. a few of us went to the hospital to offer support to the family and while there, she coded a few times. it was the most amazing thing though. while we were in the midst of prayer (after the first code blue) her sister came in the room and announced, "she's back." god was still at work in her and not ready to take her home. later in the evening we had a chance to talk and pray with another family, in the waiting room, while they awaited news of their loved one. there we were, in the halls of the ICU waiting room, 15 or more of us, holding hands and praying for one another. this morning mark received a text from josh, the husband of our friend, amber. he said that god is at work in the ICU hospital at huntington beach hospital. staff, other families, and nurses are all touched by, and have taken notice of, the support of family and friends and our strength in the lord. my point in all of this is that while many question the presence of god in tragic events, those who are his children see, even in the midst of hard times, that he is in control. he gives us a peace which is beyond all comprehension and strength to face each day, each moment. i know this all seems easy for me to write because i haven't had too many difficult circumstances that have tested my faith, like the loss of a spouse, child, friend, or immediate family member. however, i cling to the hope and promise that god is in control of our lives, my life, and his perfect will be done.