Gratitude, even in the death

I am often greeted by messages like this, like this SMS I received this morning: an update of a death, followed by a message of gratitude. My patient has died of complications from metastatic lung cancer.

In my quiet time today, I read Job 3, where he wished he hadn't been born, if only to avoid the suffering in this world. The personal burning question of pain and suffering remains, but more and more I am convinced that unless I believe in a sovereign God who upholds the universe with his Word, who allows both bad and good things to happen, whose ways are not my ways, I have no choice but to despair. But the reality of God, who loves me and gave himself up for me, is the greatest comfort.