Today, July 21, 2026, marks one year since my nephew, Rudy, went home to be with the Lord.

If you’ve ever lost someone you deeply loved—a son, a daughter, a husband, a wife, a parent, a brother, a sister, a nephew, a niece, or a dear friend—I want to speak directly to you.

Maybe you were praying with all your heart. Maybe you were believing for healing, restoration, or a miracle. You entrusted them into God’s hands, believing that everything would work out. Then suddenly, they were gone.

You may have been left asking, “God, how could this happen?” You may have felt confused, disappointed, or even as though God let you down. Perhaps you’ve struggled to go to church or even pray because your heart has been so broken.

I want you to know something today: it’s okay to grieve. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to hurt. Grief is not a lack of faith—it is the price we pay for loving someone deeply.

I’m reminded of the poem Footprints in the Sand. There was a season when only one set of footprints appeared in the sand, and the man asked the Lord, “Where were You?” Jesus replied, “It was then that I carried you.”

If you feel alone today, you’re not. Christ is carrying you, even when you can’t feel Him.

You may never fully understand why this happened. You may have questions that remain unanswered this side of heaven. But don’t let your pain steal your faith. Keep looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith. He is not finished with your story. He still has a purpose for your life, and He will walk with you through every step of your healing.

The Bible also gives us this incredible promise in Romans 8:28:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Sometimes we read that verse and wonder, “How could this possibly be for good? My loved one died.”That’s an honest question, and many of us have asked it.

This verse doesn’t say that every tragedy is good. It says that God is so faithful, so loving, and so powerful that He can take even the deepest pain of our lives and work it together for our good and for His purposes. Even when we don’t understand His ways, we can trust Him.

Psalm 147:3 reminds us:

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

If your heart is hurting today, know that God sees every tear you’ve cried. He has not abandoned you. He loves you, He is near to you, and in His perfect timing, He will bring healing to your broken heart.

Don’t give up. Keep trusting Him. One day, whether in this life or in eternity, what we cannot understand today will make sense in the presence of our Savior.