By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

Koben Hofmeyr, a 15-year-old from Louis Trichard was a top sportsman. Not only on the athletics track, but also on the rugby field where he was captain of the u/16 rugby team for his school. From the outside, everything seemed perfect. On the inside, his frustration built as his relationship with his family grew apart.

Koben's father, Trompie, was an excellent athlete. Because he saw his son's potential, he wanted to help him achieve the best possible results in his career. To Koben, it felt as if his father was pushing him unnecessarily. The two were constantly fighting. In time the conflict spilled over to his relationships with his other family members. Soon Koben started experimenting with alcohol to escape everything.

In May last year, Koben played as captain of his school’s team against Hoërskool Warmbad. In the second half of the match, he received a hard blow to his neck. It was broken. Although he initially could move his legs, hours later in hospital he was completely paralyzed.

A long, difficult road started for Koben. He was hospitalized and an intense rehabilitation process started to regain control of his muscles. In January, a short while after he stood up out of his wheelchair for the first time, I spoke to him. To the question of what the past few months meant to him, he replied: "The year 2018 was my worst, but also my best year ever. Not only did I discover God and really come to salvation, my relationship with my father - and also my family - is completely restored. I think it is better than ever. Where my dad and I used to fight continuously, we are now like best friends. We laugh and make jokes. He supported me so much over the past few months. I love him very much!”

Hurting times gives us perspective. It strips us of everything that is wrong in our lives, as it draws us closer to God. Job experienced it. He lost everything. Yet, when he proved to be faithful, God restored in double what he had lost. In Zechariah 9:12, God says: “Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.” Also in Jeremiah 30:17 we read: “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord . . .”

Have you experienced a great loss in your life? Is it hard to believe that something good can come from this? May I encourage you to keep your eyes on God. He can restore broken relationships between family members. He can restore double what you lost financially. He can provide promotion where you have been overlooked by malicious colleagues in the past. May we, like Job, prove to be faithful by keeping our eyes on God. God bless.

Father God, thank you for never being caught off-guard by anything that happens in my life. Help me to keep my eyes on you in difficult times - especially if I don't understand why things are happening - knowing you're able to work it out. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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