What do you do when get the worst news you can imagine, and your world falls apart?

Tim Challies is a blogger and author, and an elder at Grace Fellowship Church in Toronto, Ontario. He and his wife, Aileen, were blessed with two daughters and a son. On November 3, 2020, their son, Nick, died very suddenly and unexpectedly, while participating in a sports activity at his college. The cause remains unknown.

Tim’s struggle in the loss of his son was fierce. He has since written a book, Seasons of Sorrow.

Just before the release of his book in September, 2022, he was interviewed by Alistair Begg and Bob Lepine, of Truth for Life. I have included the video of their interview at the end of this post, but first I would like to share a song written for that occasion, by CityAlight.

This group has written and performed a good number of songs in recent years, which are theologically rich, and true to scripture.

This song has been a particular blessing to me, and is my testimony as well. In times of fear, He gives me His peace; in times of despair and grief, He gives me His strength; in pain and sorrow, He gives me Himself. This last one is most important to grasp, and often the most difficult, because we often don’t understand until we have lost everything else, that we have Him.

I share the song with you today, Mar. 3/23, which marks the 4^th anniversary since my husband, Ian, was called Home by God. May you be encouraged by it, in whatever struggle you find yourself in today.  

The first part of the following video is Tim talking about his experience, and reading a little from his book. The actual interview begins at the 11:45 mark.