In 1989, A Terrible Earthquake Almost Flattened ...

In 1989, a terrible earthquake almost flattened Armenia. It killed over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. One father rushed to his son's school and found the building flat as a pancake. Standing there in tears, he remembered a promise he had made to his son, "No matter what, I'll always be there for you!"

It looked absolutely hopeless, but the dad went to the back right corner and started digging in the pile of rubble. The other grieving parents tried to pull him off, saying, "It's too late! They're dead!"

But he just kept digging for his son stone by stone. He dug for 8 hours, then 12, 24, 36 hours without stopping. Finally in the 38th hour, as he pulled back a boulder, he heard his son's voice. He screamed his son's name, "ARMAND!" And a voice answered him, "Dad? It's me Dad!"

Then the boy added these priceless words, "I told the other kids not to worry. I told them that if you were alive, you'd save me and when you saved me, they'd be saved." He remembered his Father's promise: "No matter what, I'll always be there for you!"

Fourteen children were saved that day because one father was faithful. But how much more faithful is our heavenly Father!

(SOURCE:(6) 6. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, "Chicken Soup for the Soul.")

Whether we are trapped by fallen rubble, or crushed by the hardships and struggles of life, we are never cut off from our Father's faithfulness. Trust in the Lord. And don't ever lose hope. Jesus Christ will always be faithful to you.

(From Rick Crandall's Sermon "God's Great Faithfulness")