We don’t grieve as those without hope…
On this edition of Live the Promise, Susie welcomes ministry leader Wayne Pederson to the studio. We explore the process of grief and how God brings comfort when a loved one dies.
“If you had asked me, ‘what is the worst thing that could happen?’ I would have said, losing Norma. My prayer partner, my best friend.”
Wayne shares his heart and what God has taught him after the death of his wife, Norma, after a battle with cancer, and 45 years of marriage.
“Because mankind allowed evil to come into the world, even righteous people taste of that from time to time. And until Jesus comes back to redeem this toxic world, this is the world in which we live. Norma said repeatedly, ‘I trust You, Lord.‘ It reminds me of what Job said, though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
Even when the darkness comes into our life – as it will for all of us at some point, God has not taken His hand or presence from us. In Wayne’s words, “God is there when the worse possible thing happens.”
“We came to Minnesota on Memorial Day weekend. Norma’s mom saw her and said ‘You need to get to a doctor.’ We saw our physician the very next day.”
The doctor confirmed that Norma had stage 3 ovarian cancer. She went through chemotherapy and seemed to be responding well. Within a matter of months the cancer had returned and the doctors gave her a year to live. Wayne describes the moment his wife died in early April, surrounded by her family.
“The real Norma passed from that body into the presence of Jesus.”
After her passing, Wayne has been even more focused on heaven and sharing the hope of Christ with others. We can have joy and expectancy because of Jesus’ promise to come back for us. Wayne points to three things that sustained him in this season of life.
• The Word
• God’s people
• Intercessory prayer
A final word from Wayne: “Cherish the people God’s put in your life… Go home and hug them extra hard.”
Key Scriptures: Isaiah 41:10; Job 13:15; 2 Corinthians 5:7
Theme Song: Hiding Place by Steven Curtis Chapman
Other Featured Songs: I Bless Your Name and You Raise Me Up by Selah
Highlight : Living with eternal hope
This program has been previously aired.
