I read about a family who lost three children to diphtheria in the same week. Only a 3-year-old girl escaped the disease. On the following Easter morning, the father, mother, and child attended church. Because the father was the Sunday school superintendent, he led the session when all the classes met together. As he read the Easter message from the Bible, many were weeping, but the father and mother remained calm and serene.

When Sunday school was over, a 15-year-old boy was walking home with his father. “The superintendent and his wife must really believe the Easter story,” said the boy. His father answered, “All Christians do.” “Not the way they do!” replied the young man.

How we react under trial demonstrates the depth of our convictions. This is not to say that a true Christian will not weep at the loss of a loved one. However, knowing that all believers who die go into Christ’s presence, we need not “sorrow as others who have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13). We can say, “Thank You, Lord,” because we know He can be trusted to do what is best. The prophet said it well: “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; . . . yet I will rejoice in the Lord” (Hab. 3:17-18).

  — Richard De Haan