Yesterday marked a horrible anniversary.

On November 29, 2018, the son of a wealthy surgeon entered our son’s dorm room, and stabbed him multiple times.

Alex almost died.

Twice.

His physical wounds required 3 hospitalizations, emergency surgery to the lower abdomen, a chest tube to re-inflate a collapsed lung, staples to close a deep cut, and daily care for a deep arm wound that required 3-feet of gauze packing to fill a cavernous hole in his arm. 

His emotional wounds went much deeper. Night terrors, flashbacks, and depression haunted a young man who had been such a great source of light and laughter in the lives of those he met and loved.

Adding further to his injuries was the judicial process. The 11-month bench trial ended two days after the 2020 election.   Alex’s attacker was found guilty on two felony counts of aggravated battery – with a deadly weapon and causing great bodily harm. 

But the sentence was a slap on the wrist – community service and probation. 

No justice. 

For the Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever. But the children of the wicked will die.  Psalm 37:28

The sentence… the lack of meaningful consequences was hard to accept. Objections and complaints whirred through my mind:

“I guess money CAN buy anything.”

“Defense attorneys are evil.”

But I was reminded that although that God hates evil, in his grace and mercy He uses even the wicked and sinful things people do to work out His purposes (Acts 2:23). 

And His purposes are eternal. 

Even though my heart longs for answers and justice for my boy; I can rest in the full assurance that although things don’t seem fair, our God is. 

He will work this out for the good (Rom 8:28-29). 

Eternal good.

The kind of good we won’t see until we are on the other side of this life, if ever. 

And though tears may still sting my eyes from time to time, I can trust that God’s got this.

He’s got it all. Every bit of it.

And no matter the circumstance… no matter the cost… no matter the difficulty… I can find joy. A true, deep lasting joy that can only come from submitting to the will of God. Come what may.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.     1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Give God the glory.

Dare you!