On Comfort.

On August first, myself, along with about thirty others headed up to Lake Shasta to finish up the final preparations of our annual Houseboats trip.
On August second, we decorated our boats, purchased truck loads of food, and gathered as a staff for the last quiet moments before the chaos of the kids the next day would bring.
On August third, we waited for their loud arrival. We yelled, we welcomed, we embraced hundreds of high school students. We worshiped together, prayed together, listened together, played together.
On August forth it was finally time for the fun of Houseboats to begin.
That day changed my life, and hundreds of others, forever.
Someone was missing.
Over two hundred of us prayed on a hill for a miracle.
A miracle never came.
God was there, he didn't abandon us. He didn't forget us or ignore us. But a miracle was not received that day. Now hundreds of high school students are asking the question Why?
Why God?
This trip that was supposed to transform, this trip that was supposed to bring joy, this trip that for about 15 years has gone on without even the slightest hitch was supposed to do the same this year.
God was there.
Accidents like this shouldn't happen.
I'm angry. I'm confused.
But God is here.
He is real and I trust him.
I received a text message from my cousin who had been praying for me, the staff, the family and our situation and in it she sent 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
We were being comforted so that we could comfort others in that time.
The staff stayed incredibly strong. The students leaned on us and we did not bend or break.

God was there.
My sister shared a verse with those on the trip that night.
Genesis 28:16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it."
Jacob was unaware that the Lord, the God of the Universe was right where he was.

That day the Lord of the Universe, the Creator of all things, was there.
That day will never be forgotten.
Jeremiah Murray will never be forgotten.

"He was either alive, and we would find him. Or he is more alive than he has ever been." These words were spoken by Jeremiahs loving father minutes before he was pronounced dead. God was there. And now Jeremiah is with him.

God was there then, and he is here now.