Word of the Week - Eternal Hope
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
Amy and I attended the funeral service of Camille Hensarling Mahtook yesterday in our hometown of Lafayette, LA. Camille is the daughter and one of five children of our dear and lifelong friends Neil and Rachel Hensarling. Amy and I grew up with Rachel and met Neil in college when they started dating. Rachel and Amy were roommates their junior and senior year in college, so Neil and I became good friends and have maintained a strong friendship since. Camille was diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma cancer over 5 years ago during her freshman year at LSU. Since then, we have walked alongside the Hensarling family for the last 5 years praying fervently and believing that God would heal Camille. I shared Camille’s story with my “Word of the Week” community when she was first diagnosed and a few times along the way, see “WOW” prior post about Camille. It has been an amazing journey of faith; both gut wrenching and deeply inspiring.
Over the past 5 years, I have witnessed Camille and her family walk through this very challenging situation with amazing faith, hope, and love. They have lived life full of hope, trusting and believing for God’s healing power while at the same time acknowledging the reality and weight of this situation and doing everything possible to beat the cancer. Camille and her family continued to “live” life to the full making every-day count. Camille was an amazing beautiful (inside & out) and gifted young woman. You can read her Obituary in the link above to get the full picture of Camille. I attended Camille’s wedding in January of this year. It was one of the most loving and moving experiences of my life and so full of faith, hope, and love.
Camille’s funeral yesterday was so impactful to me and all who attended; there was standing room only. On one hand it was deeply heartbreaking to see her husband Greg, along with her family in the pain of their loss. On the other hand, the faith, hope, and love that was present was overwhelming. I think everyone there experienced the presence of God in a supernatural way. The inspiration of how Camille, her husband Greg, and their family have lived by faith and continue to place their hope in God is nothing short of miraculous and deeply inspiring toward the eternal hope of those who trust God as Savior. “God’s love was poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” yesterday at Camille’s life celebration service.
So how did Camille, Greg and their family and walk with such faith, hope and love through this tremendous challenge:
Faith - “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” Hebrews 11:1 Camille, Greg and their families walked in faith every day remaining confident with hope even when the circumstances were not lining up. This is true faith, and it is powerful.
Hope – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy, and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”. Romans 15:13 Camille, Greg and their families put their hope and trust in Jesus as the source. In doing so, they had they experienced supernatural hope and joy through the trial by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Love – “And now these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love” 1 Corinthians 13:13 The essence of God is love; therefore, love wins over all. The love that was manifest in and through Camille, Greg and their family was overwhelming throughout the journey and tangibly present yesterday at the service. I experienced the presence of God’s love through them.
It is hard to understand why this would happen to such an amazing young woman and great family, and why God did not heal her as we all prayed for. With this difficult question in the forefront, there is no doubt that God has and will continue to use the life of Camille, Greg and her family for His purpose and glory to draw people to Jesus. The miracle is how much God did and will continue to do into eternity through Camille and her 24 short years on this earth. Our true hope is not in this short life on earth but in our eternal life in heaven.
“Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.” Psalm 39: 4-5
This has prompted me to reflect on my own life and evaluate if I am living life to the full as if this could be my last day? Am I living full of faith, hope and love? Today is the only day we are promised, so let us make the most of it and live it full of Faith, Hope and Love like Camille, Greg and their family.