By Sandra Bost
It has been almost 2 weeks since my feet were on mission soil in Costa Rica. I want to share more about the things I saw The Lord do there. But, that can wait. This week, I heard the testimony of a dear friend sharing about her first mission trip, and I want to encourage you with that instead.
When I met my friend in 2012, she was the registrar at the school my children attended. Over the course of time, I came to know the story about the tragic car accident that took the life of her precious, 17-year-old daughter in 2003. I learned it not because she talked about her loss or wore it like a badge, but because–through her deep, unimaginable grief–she and her family created a scholarship fund in honor of her beautiful girl.
Fast forward to the first week of June this summer. I saw my friend in town. She was glowing as she told me about the upcoming opportunity to travel on her first international mission trip. I could hardly reach her to hug her neck because she was flying so high with excitement. As we embraced, I whispered a quick prayer for the Lord to bless her and use her for His glory.
She got back from her trip a couple of weeks ago, just like me, and I was able to hear her testimony this week through a replay on YouTube. Listening to her tell her story–choking back tears–I sensed the deep, steadfast love of God.
During Bible classes with the women, my friend and her mission team shared the story of Ruth. In her testimony, she mentioned that as a teenager, she saw the book of Ruth only as a “great love story.” She went on to say that she grew in her understanding as a college student to see the connection of Boaz to Jesus as our kinsman redeemer. But it wasn’t until after the loss of her daughter, when her bitter grief–mingled with anger–caused her to identify with Naomi, which led her to encounter God’s Hesed Love as he called her out of her bitterness into the promised land.
Standing on foreign soil, my friend sensed the Father asking her to share about losing her daughter. She said that she told the women how she had spent “12 long years” angry at God for taking her daughter. She went on to compare her life to the bitterness of Naomi’s life and how she, like Naomi, had to return to God in repentance and accept God’s perfect plan for her and her precious daughter.
One of the women in the village resonated with her story. After the study, she was able to share through a translator that she, too, had experienced the loss of a child–23 years earlier. Her son had died–at 17–from a motorcycle accident. She said that she was also angry with God for a moment, until she was able to trust His divine purpose in her tragedy.
Who but Jehovah God—in all of His sovereignty—could bring two mommas from two different countries, separated by over 1,500 miles, to the same spot 23 years after the greatest earthly loss of a parent, and use them to comfort each other?
When I messaged my friend to tell her I was rejoicing with her—at how God showed that He sees her, knows her, and that His Hesed has pursued her and her foreign sister all their days—she wrote back: “All praise goes to Jesus!”
What about you, Friend? When is the last time you have experienced God’s Hesed love? Hesed is a Hebrew word that is found over 250 times in the Old Testament. It is a word that God used in Exodus 34:6 to describe Himself when He says, “The LORD, The LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love [hesed] and faithfulness….” (ESV). According to Biblehub.com, hesed is translated as “lovingkindness, mercy, steadfast love, loyalty, faithfulness.”
God’s Hesed is rarely loud, but it is always present—weaving through thousands of miles, quiet heartbreaks, and decades of waiting just to remind us that we are seen.
Where in your life today are you waiting for His divine comforting touch? I challenge you to open your eyes to the unexpected ways Jehovah God is already reaching into your story. Look for His loyal love in ordinary encounters, accept the comfort He extends through others, and step forward as a living vessel of that same steadfast love to someone who needs it today.
The same sovereign God who orchestrates divine appointments across 1,500 miles and 23 years is walking beside you at this very moment. His Hesed is not a distant promise; it is an active, loving reality. Rest in the truth that He knows you, He sees you, and He will never leave you to carry your grief alone.
He might just bring someone from 1,500 miles away to sit beside you in your pain to comfort you–or maybe He’ll send you to carry that comfort to someone else. Will you go?
Be encouraged, Friend. He is with you.
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