“I can’t believe this is happening,” is not a statement for the status quo. I can’t believe this is happening describes the disbelief of amazing life events and the hardest of life’s tragedies. Over the last week I have lived in the balance of both the high and low.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” I said to God in thanksgiving and in disbelief that something so good and only by God’s provision could have happened to me. It was only a few days ago I stood in front of a camera video taping promotional videos for my next books. Who would have ever thought this was the path God had for me?

Within a matter of hours, I stood at the hospital bedside of my loved one, crying out to God for a miracle to save his life. “I can’t believe this is happening,” I cried out to God in disbelief that something so heart wrenching could happen. As I stood there crying out, it was a reminder of the “why” I started writing in the first place. Why do I share the hope that I have in Christ Jesus? It is because He is the only one who gets me through the highs and lows of life.

The highest highs and the lowest lows share the same phrase of disbelief, “I can’t believe it.” How do we wrap our minds and let alone our heart and emotions experiencing the balance of celebration and pain in such extreme measures?

The hours friends and family have sat with us. The mountains of prayers that have gone up. The emails, texts and phone calls offering prayers and concern. The food that has been provided. The kind gestures to help with kids and details at home. These selfless, love infused people and these relationships have caused me yet again to say, “I can’t believe this is happening.”

Maybe I can’t believe that these circumstances are happening in my life – cause of tears and cause for joy, but what I can believe is that through the highest highs and the lowest lows God has been present, holding our hands and holding our hearts. Much of God’s love has been demonstrated through his people.

I can believe in the truth and the promises of God’s word. I can believe that God is with my family here and now from the hospital room, or standing in front of the video camera, or sharing the message of Hope through speaking and Ascent to Hope. God hasn’t left me, not even for a second. He has been here all along, and He is the only way I can live, walk through and thrive in the balance of tragedy and favor.

He hasn’t left you either.

No matter the circumstance God is the consistent. He is faithful to stand beside us regardless of the battle or victory we face. On top of it all, I count all these events as blessings. Not that I long for hard things in life, but this hard season has displayed the amazing character of my family, doctors, nurses and friends and the amazing love of God.

Even in the hardest of days, God’s light shines through in blessings of hope and the blessings of people. In the “I can’t believe this is happening” moments of life, it is the people God puts beside us standing shoulder to shoulder, linking arms and sharing laughter and tears that sustain us as we walk through it one moment at a time.

“For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.” John 13:35

The days this week have felt like months. Hour upon hour in the hospital waiting room. Prayer after prayer going up. Tear after tear falling to dampen my cheeks. When days feel like years, God demonstrated his love to us through his followers and that has made all the difference in the world. People, friends, family, doctors and nurses have made living in the balance of joy and tragedy possible.

I ask you today, if you are a follower of God, how have you allowed him to use you to demonstrate his love to another? How has God demonstrated his love to you through others? Are you walking through a tragedy or victory that God is using to get your attention and remind you how much he cares for you? Have you said, “I can’t believe this is happening?” What can you believe about God amid the challenge of the circumstance you face?

God’s love is so deep he allows us to walk through the extremes of life to teach us to lean into and on him. Trust him because he is trustworthy. Believe in him because is he faithful. Love because he loves.