“In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:10, NIV).

I don’t often cry at weddings, but I did at this one. Her first husband had been my physician friend and patient before he died. He had lived a difficult life and traveled a difficult road to heaven, but he loved deeply the One who had died for him. I walked with him through those days, sitting in his garage, listening to his favorite Willie Nelson song, sharing a mutual love for Jesus and standing there at his bedside for his last breath. Now the wife who had cared so well for him in his hard times has been blessed by God with a new partner for life, and they are both totally devoted to Christ as their Lord. It was beautiful. It was more than I could take in without tears.

Incredible sadness, cycling into beautiful love, all “wrapped up in scarlet kindness,” as the song “Street Called Mercy” by Hillsong United says.

I was witnessing the profound depth of life and could only watch in wonder, knowing God has His arms around it all.

How does He do it? How does He wrap his love around this one family with all their heartache and joy? How does He do the same for my family and every family in this world He created?

How did He weave me together in my mother’s womb and ordain all the days of my life, even before one of them came to be? How does he know every word on my tongue, even before it is spoken? “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (Psalm 139:6, NIV.)

How did He focus His attention on this one precious woman to provide for her a deep love again?

How does He comfort all who are broken if they will only call His name?

How does He bring the only joy that will last forever to those of us who love Him?

How does He hold the whole world in His hands, while I cannot even imagine His work within one family without tears?

Dear Father,

Praise your name for your omniscient and omnipotent love.

Amen