Steve: I am a girl dad to three beautiful girls and one handsome but very outnumbered boy. Our story is filled with the grace and mercy of God every step of the way, but our youngest girl has the most unique story of the bunch. We just celebrated the 10th birthday of our youngest daughter, Paislie, on September 30, 2023, but we celebrate her birthday different than any of the others. As we celebrate her birthday every year, we also remember the death of my younger brother.
Ten years ago on Sunday, September 29, I got a phone call from my dad that my brother had been found unresponsive. Josh had been struggling with addiction to pain killers and antidepressants for about 3 years, after being bitten by a brown recluse spider. We all knew he was abusing them and had tried to get him help several times. I had a terrible feeling that eventually this day would come if something didn’t change and sadly, now it had. I got to the hospital to find Josh on life support and from what we were told, there was no brain activity. We were all asking the same questions, “why” and “how” God could let this happen. The temptation was to say that God was not paying attention or doesn’t care, but here is where the story becomes so unique.
The next day is September 30 and my wife, and I were scheduled for an 11:00 c section at the same hospital with our 4th child. So that morning I got up and drove back to the same hospital where my brother is on the 4th floor on life support, but I am bringing my very pregnant wife with me. We arrive and get prepared and sure enough at 11:23, my wife gives birth to an 11lb beautiful baby girl, Paislie Kate. We were in a room on the 5th floor overwhelmed with joy at the birth of our youngest daughter and this is news I, of course, want to share with my family. So, I got on the elevator and went down one floor to the 4th floor to share the news with my parents. As the elevator door opens, it hits me. The same heaviness and grief that I felt the day before comes to forefront again. Sorrow and tears fill my mind and eyes as I walked off the elevator and into my brother’s room to share the good news.
On the 5th floor there is joy and celebration at the birth of my daughter and on the 4th floor there is grief and despair at the death of my brother, and all this is happening at the same time. On the 5th floor, it is easy to praise God and think about and see His goodness in the birth of a child, but on the 4th floor the temptation is to blame God and question His goodness at the loss of a loved one. It was in this unique situation that I could clearly see that God is the same good God all the time even when circumstances try to tell a different story. I couldn’t help but think of Proverbs 3:5-6 that tells me to Trust the Lord with all my heart and to lean not unto my own understanding. This really was a life example that Jesus really is the same yesterday, today, and forever as Hebrews 13:8 says. And that as we Christians say, God really is good all the time. I am no Matthew West for sure, but the Lord led me to write down lyrics that tell this story and I felt led to share them here as well in hopes that it might be an encouragement to others who may be struggling with difficult circumstances and questioning the goodness of God. The title to these simple lyrics says “God is good Here, There, and Everywhere.”
There’s a family in the waiting room on the fourth floor gathered around. The grief is overwhelming while the tears of pouring down, As a dad, a son, a brother lies lifeless in the bed, and the doctor brings the news that they all dread.
Then the questions without answers, begin running through their minds, how could you let this happen? Oh God, please tell us why; just a floor above them, same time, and the same place there’s Joy and celebration with a smile on every face.
A niece, a grandchild, a daughter sleeps peacefully in the bed as the beaming parents gently rub her head. It’s easy here to praise him and bless His Holy Name, but what if I were to tell you these families are the same.
Yes, He’s Good here, but He’s still Good there; He is worthy of all praise, no matter when or where His promises are sure. You can trust His plan. He’s an anchor for the soul, He’s a Rock in sinking sand.
So, if you’re standing on the mountain top or in the valley of despair, God is good here, there, and everywhere. Yes, I lost my baby brother, but I gained my baby girl.
So, if I’m drowned in my sorrows or on the top of the world.
Yes, He’s good here, but He’s still good there.
He is worthy of all praise, no matter when or where.
His promises are sure, you can trust His plan.
He’s an anchor for the soul and a Rock in which to stand.
So, if you’re standing on the mountain top or in the valley of despair, God is good here, there, and everywhere.
