Today she is in Glory!

Kiara Tyler
February 9, 2002-June 11, 2008

Today, our dear friends from the Juniors Ministry, Gary and Toya Tyler, lost their 6 year old daughter. But they lost her to Jesus. They know that "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." She was diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia early last year, and the last 18 months or so have been spent in and out of the hospital, with round the clock medical care, a bone marrow transplant, and the effects of GVHD. It has been a long, hard road.

While this all sounds horrible for parents to have to experience, the Tyler family triumphed in trial through their unwavering faith, hope, and trust in God's providence in every aspect of their lives. Their example and testimony was profound. They knew God was using this to impact the lives of people near and far. They joyfully accepted this as God's perfect will for their lives, and they never once complained. Their young daughter is now safe in the arms of Jesus, without pain, sickness, sin, or sorrow. So while their loss is unimaginable, they can now long for heaven even more themselves as a result, knowing they will be reunited with their daughter someday.

As Christians, our perspective on difficulty and hardship in life is different. We believe in a God who orders every detail of life (Romans 8:28). We believe in a God who gives us trials to strengthen us and make us depend on Him (1 Peter 1:3-7). Any response outside of thankful worship of God for his mercy and grace in our lives would be declaring to God that he has made a mistake. And we know God doesn't make mistakes, change his mind, nor lie.

I am so thankful for the testimony and example of this family to me. They are genuinely faithful, loving, and selfless. They have demonstrated the power of God by their attitudes, responses, love towards others, and thankfulness for everything they have experienced. I pray God will mercifully carry them through the next days and weeks as they go home to resume their lives once again. Great is Thy faithfulness. Your mercies are new every morning.