How To See The Goodness Of God In The Shadow Of Suffering

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In this episode, I spoke with Summer Gordon.

Summer is a wife, mother, author, and speaker whose passion is to help others look beyond life’s trying circumstances and fix their eyes on Christ.

The Gordon family suffered a tragic loss when their 5-year-old son was hit and killed by someone they knew.

I spoke with Summer about the book 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀: 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, which she and her husband, Reppard, wrote.

They share their transparent story of loss, love, forgiveness, and the unshakeable goodness of God.

Summer shared how it can be easy to park in our pain. But God wants us to live intentionally and shift our thinking from park to drive.  

God has so much for us up ahead, including a new life with those we have lost.

God wants us to understand that this is not all there is. There is so much more.

𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

UPDATE: May 2025
Since the release of this podcast, we have experienced the heartbreaking loss of our daughter. I have found comfort by reflecting on all the ways God went before our family, placing people, stories, and events in our lives to support us during this difficult time.

Summer's story and book are among those provisions. I have re-read her book with kindred eyes, feeling a shared brokenness and deep gratitude. I am thankful for her willingness to share her pain and vulnerability.

Summer and her husband, Reppard, embody the message of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we are comforted by God.”

If you are listening to this episode because you, too, have lost a child, I pray that you find comfort in knowing that our God is a bereaved parent! He gave up His child so that we can have ours back!

Summer Gordon Instagram

 Thank you so much for listening. I'd also like to extend a special thank you to my listeners and Email subscribers who have been so supportive during this time. As our family continues to navigate the unexpected passing of our daughter, Annie Lauren, this podcast is currently on pause.

I share her story on episode 236, as well as on the grief tab on my website, cherifletcher.com. 

Since Annie's passing, I have heard the wo