No. 1658:
In the most meaningless thing – that my wife Berit Nyland Christensen dies at only 66 years old – I believe that God can have a way, plan and will!

Picture of me, Berit, Benedikte, Benjamin and Sara when everything was only happiness, health, prosperity and life was only sunshine.

Today it is experienced exactly the opposite.
But then one must put everything in God's hands, let's seek the Lord.
The only way forward is Jesus, he is the solution to all our problems and difficulties.

In my eyes, Berit had a faith and conviction in Jesus and God's word that was extra ordinary, exquisite and out of the ordinary. If only she were so devoted to Jesus and God!

If I am to see anything "positive" with Berit's premature death, it is that I am now being tested to such an extent out of the ordinary!

 

1 Pet. 1. 6 Therefore you can rejoice with joy, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you may have to suffer various trials.
7 Your faith will be tested—for it is more precious than gold that perishes, even though it is refined by fire—so that it may be found to praise, honor, and glory when it is revealed by Jesus Christ.

I had 38 wonderful, wonderful, and enriching years with Berit

Then she became ill, and then died far too young, simply an untimely death.
I can't give any answer to why this happened.
Was it unhealthy lifestyle? Lack of faith?
For me, it was none of these.
But she did die, and the most dramatic thing that could happen happened.
She died!

What now? Standing still like this is the most demanding thing anyone can experience and experience.

I am completely broken and out of action.
But as a believer and as a human being, life goes on.
I am now actually quite alone here in Oslo as all our children live far from me here in Oslo. This is an additional burden.
https://blog.janchristensen.net/2025/11/nr-3516-hva-na-jan-kare-hva-er-videre.html

So, can I see anything "good" about this?

There is no doubt that now faith and everything that I am.
Tested in a way that surpasses everything I have experienced before.
And will experience.
I am now in the greatest crisis, phase and difficulty of my life!
Nothing can be compared to this, it surpasses absolutely everything.
It is obvious that what I am going through now "tops" all the trials and difficulties I have experienced before in my life!

Even now life must and will go on, then it is about doing to get through this!

We are used to thinking that when the husband dies, God and the Christians. The family and others will take care of the widow. The one who is left behind.
Here it is actually me as a man, who is left behind.
I have become a widower. With all that entails. And only 61 years old, it is really incomprehensible.
We read in the scriptures about widows and single people.

James 1. 27 Pure and undefiled service from God our Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

1 Tim. 5. 3 Honor widows who are truly widows!

4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should first show respect for their own family and repay the debt they have received from their parents, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God.

5 But a widow who is truly desolate has her hope set on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.

The children should "be children or grandchildren, these must first show respect for their own and repay what they have received from their parents, for that is good and acceptable before God."

Now I do not have children who are completely where God's word says they should be because they have all chosen to move far away from me and Berit.
Now I need other relationships that make themselves felt.
Where God must meet me in a special way.
The scripture says:
"But a widow who is truly alone sets her hope on God and perseveres in supplication and prayer night and day."

Now I am not a widow, but a widower.
Where I believe that the same applies to me as to widows. God does not make a difference.
Widows and widowers have the same promises.

Here I am quite alone in Oslo, with only God and Jesus to trust!

I do not know the way forward, because here there are so many demanding things to deal with.
Then the only thing I can do is to entrust my life and everything into the hands of God and Jesus.
The apostle Paul says it so well.

1 Tim. 1. 2 To Timothy, a true child of the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and from Jesus Christ our Lord.

That is exactly what I need more than anything else that Paul writes here:
"Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and from Jesus Christ our Lord."

What is this?

I believe that God also uses circumstances, people and everything so that I can share in this. Then I sincerely hope that many people pray for me, because that is what I need in this situation that I have found myself in.
After Berit died from me, and is now in Paradise.

http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2025/09/no-1650-had-last-meeting-with-my-wife.html 

I am now back on earth as a widower!

What is something to think about. Is that now I have experienced the most demanding, traumatic and greatest ordeal that a person can go through.
Losing your own spouse, best friend and faithful life companion throughout your life.
After At 38 I became a widower.

I also think that I had 38 wonderful, glorious and instructive years with my beloved Berit Nyland Christensen

Life on earth is a preparation for eternity.
Where we will get back what we sowed here on earth.
We must see life on earth as something that will be fulfilled on the other side.
We will reap what we sowed.

The former, now deceased Maranatha Evangelist Karl H. Caspersen wrote a wonderfully beautiful song.

Jesus is my teacher and I am his student The first thing he taught me was to bend my knee and thank him for the blood that flowed on Calvary that cleansed me from sin and the burden it fell from.

Now I go to the school of the spirit, he now guides my path and reveals the word, yes fills me with song I praise him for salvation and thank the Lord God who freed me from sin and freed me completely.

If Satan wants to torment me God says I shall command him to flee for the name of Jesus Christ Every power of sickness on earth Jesus has defeated For the sick we can pray, he gives us answers to prayer.

Then he says so lovingly: You Heaven has won for them are found worthy who here receive me we will meet in the cloud, see the gate stands open The table is all set, soon the wedding bell will ring

There we see brother Peter and all the children of Abraham with all the prophets of God will sing the song of the Lamb We palm branches sway when the choir joins in like the roar of many waters, how glorious it will be.

And are you here sinning who still does not know that Jesus can save you for time and eternity The first thing you should do. it is to bend the knee and thank him for the blood and then the miracle will happen,
https://blog.janchristensen.net/2017/03/nr-1874-det-er-ikke-alltid-gud-men-vi.html

I wrote this when my Father died in 2013!

Psalm 84. 7 When they walk through the valley of tears, they make it a spring of water, and the autumn rain covers it with blessing.

I wrote this when my Father died, as I can write now when my beloved wife Berit died.
http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2013/04/nr-489-grief-part-al-life-but-it-must.html

Psalm 84. 7 When they walk through the valley of tears, they make it a spring of water, and the autumn rain covers it with blessing.

I have been in pain for the past year, but gradually the pressure eased! When my father became seriously ill a good year ago and the illness meant that he was unable to eat, and when he died, all of this lost an enormous amount of strength, exuberant mood and spark of life. But then one also has to get over it, and move on in life. But it is healthy, good and right to feel the sadness, the loss and all that has been that has not been good.

We sing in the song by Åge Samuelsen: "If I go through the valley of tears, He (God) makes it a blessing". But this is not in the WORD, it says that WE make it a BLESSING! Then in Psalm 84 verse seven. In other words, when we go through the valley of tears, we make it a spring of water. Notice what is written in Psalm 84. it says that THEY make it. Quoting parts of Psalm 84. 7 once again: "they walk through the valley of tears, they make it a spring of water".

It also depends on what we do with the grief and when we walk through the valley of tears. We can sit down and let it overwhelm us, or take a lesson, expand our hearts and move on. The choice is actually ours.

They are the ones who most capitalize on their suffering and sorrow. It can be good for a time, to grieve. But it must not become the standard for the rest of our lives. We can really only do two things, in my experience. It is the following:

1. Put everything in God's hands.

2. It is to put everything behind us and move on. I am now trying to do all of this together with my family. I am happy for the intercession, consideration and all the support that we have already received. It has been overwhelming both here in Oslo, on Karmøy and in Denmark. It is something that warms and does good, it is after all to see such a great response and kindness from both God and people.

Here from my Bible commentaries Philippians 3. 7 But what was once a gain for me, I now see as a loss because of Christ. Since Moses received the law about 1500 years before Paul, all Jews had more or less wanted to get up to Paul's "level". But all this is in vain, he says, because of one thing and one person. Jesus' atoning work and Christ alone will own our hearts. There is nothing outside or beside him that can make us children of God and living Christians. It is and remains only faith in Jesus.

8 Yes, I count everything as loss, because knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord, is so much more valuable. For his sake I have lost everything, and I see it as rubbish so that I can win Christ Paul embroiders further. There is much that all people want to achieve in this world and there is much that one can manage. And everything does not have to be negative. But do you have faith in Jesus or not? For his sake I have lost everything and nothing prevents me from believing in him and serving him alone. It is only that life and that faith that leads forward. Nothing could be compared to owning Christ.

9 and being in him. Here I do not have my own righteousness, which comes from the law, but the righteousness that I have through faith in Christ, which is from God and is based on faith. Paul speaks of this as being a citizen of a country or coming from a certain place; being in him. I am reminded of Psalm 87.6 When the Lord writes down the people, he counts them and says, “Here is this one born.” 7 Then they sing and dance and say, “All my springs are in you.” The law provides a form of righteousness, self-satisfaction for the flesh. No one is able to follow it to the letter, but still some are better than others (especially when you get additional laws that the Pharisees and Jews also have today, just look at the turban that is not mentioned in the Bible at all). The law is really given for one thing; that we should realize and see that we are helpless, lost, sinners and transgressors. Rom.3. 20 No man becomes righteous before God because of the works that the law requires. Through the law we learn to know sin. The law applies, but we never manage to follow and live up to the demands and commandments of the law. It requires perfection, but no man has it.

10 Then I know him and the power of his resurrection, share in his sufferings and become like him when I die like him – Knowing Jesus morning, noon and evening, that is what the Christian life is all about. Then we share in his resurrection power but at the same time there is suffering, and suffering in walking with Jesus in this world. Jesus received a tough, unjust and evil treatment in this world and that must also be expected of those who believe in him.

11 if only I could reach the resurrection from the dead! Here Paul refers to the final salvation. It is a resurrection morning. One day we will see Jesus and fully become like him, if only we endure until the end. The resurrection morning can be in several phases. It is a resurrection at the entrance to the 1000-year kingdom. One at the judgment of the white throne, but for us it is when Jesus comes in the air and takes us home to himself (1 Thess. 4:13-18 and 1 Cor. 15:50-57).

12 I do not think that I have already reached this or am already perfect, but I press on to take hold of it, because I myself have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. When even Paul could say that he was not perfect, we can also say that. But he pressed on to the goal. We are in the middle of a spiritual marathon, most of us run and not a 100 m. How to reach the goal and reach the goal in the best possible way? Through Jesus we are saved and he should be the center of everything we do. We should simply live like Jesus, love like Jesus, etc.

13 Brothers, I do not think about myself that I have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: I forget what lies behind and reach for what lies ahead. He had not yet grasped the final salvation itself, no one has yet. It happens when we meet Jesus physically face to face. How important it is not to forget and forgive everything you have done. Sometimes other people do not forget even if you have asked for forgiveness. But if you can forget and forgive yourself, I believe that is of greater importance than what others say and think. And we reach out towards the goal, we see and move on.

14 and chase forward to the goal and the prize of victory to which God from on high has called us in Christ Jesus. Paul imagines the Christian life as being on a racetrack. Along the way there are wonderful and important experiences, but the focus must not be lost. It is to reach the finish line and with the crown of victory around your head. There are no shortcuts or opportunities to cheat to get there. And it is with a high calling. No one has a higher calling than us Christians. We have in view: 2. Pet.3. 13 But according to his promise we await a new heaven and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
Final comment:

What more can I say?
Something that I have learned through this is the importance of stopping in life. Take time for each other, soon it will all be over!
Then it is too late.
Tell what you want to say to the person today, do not postpone it.
Stand up for people, especially your own family.
And when something changes, do what you can to correct it and pray for the person and the situation.
We humans are all in the same "boat" that needs grace and help from God.
And it warms and actually does incredibly good to receive so much care, warmth and love from people, not just God!

1 Cor. 13. 13 But now these three remain, faith, hope, love, and the greatest of these is love!