I lost a dear friend this past week. I miss him. With three days left on the Promise Remains tour, I received a phone call saying that he had passed. My heart grieved desperately within me. He was far too young. So many questions were left unanswered, too many words left unsaid. This was not how I wanted the tour to end. We only had three concerts left and then back to Nashville. I decided that I would wait to mourn his death until I had gotten home… in the privacy of my house… by myself. Well, I turned out to be a total and complete mess. How humorous to think that I could ever fully control a breaking heart!!!
The show would go on with a whole in my heart. I told the Lord that I would obey and continue the work He has called me to whether I felt I was able or not. Something incredible happened that night. Some of you might be familiar with the song “Wasting Time” that the girls and I have sung this whole year. When we reached the chorus of that song, I began to sing the lyrics with an intensity that, frankly, shocked me. For those of you who don’t know, here are the words…

I don’t want to waste this time
I just want to make this count
If it ain’t you,
I don’t want to do it
I don’t want to waste this time
Let your love be my guide
If it ain’t you,
I don’t want to do it

I truly felt the Lord comforting me through my obedience. I can hear my friend, Todd Agnew, singing “Oh, How He Loves Us” right now as I type all this out!!!!

Matthew 11:28 NIV
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
I always assumed rest meant propping my feet up and taking a seat. This time, however, rest involved a small weight lifting off of my aching shoulders. It meant comfort in the midst of tragedy. Hope in the thick of despair. It meant not stopping. As we got to the bridge, I felt pretty unstoppable…

We’ve only got a moment
While we’re on this earth
I want to give to you
Whatever my life is worth

It is technically Thanksgiving Day(3 am). My precious family are all together(and hopefully asleep!). It has been 6 days since the call that shook my world. I am still filled with sorrow, but I am also unbelievably thankful. I hugged my parents so tight today and soaked in my siblings laughter. The sun shone with a brilliance that melted away a few bits of gloom. My grateful heart has begun to override some sorrow. I am beyond thankful for my Heavenly Father and for His never ending love and mercy.
Everyone who reads this, please respond with at least one thing that you are so very thankful for…

Brianna