Sue Clark was an active member of FPC for decades, serving as church treasurer, deacon, choir director, soloist, Alpha administrator, and prayer warrior. Her life was changed dramatically about fifteen years ago when she was brutally attacked in her home by a young robber high on drugs, who beat her and left her for dead.

But God had different plans—Sue survived. She was weeks in the hospital and months in rehab, but she recovered. Her world was changed, certainly, but eventually she was able to carry on her life. Her assailant was eventually apprehended and stood trial.

When Sue spoke in a victim impact statement to the court at his sentencing, she used that opportunity, not to dwell on her suffering, but to tell the story of Joseph and to quote Genesis 50: 20: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done...” Sue forgave her attacker, and prayed with his family after the court session. Her life was forever divided into two parts, before and after the attack, but she did not live her life in bitterness. She knew that God had a plan for her and for her attacker. Sue extended grace.

We remember her this week as we reflect on the reading we are doing together in The Story about Joseph. Like him, Sue understood that God was doing a work in the Upper Story that we couldn’t see clearly from our life in the Lower Story, but she knew God was at work to ultimately bring about good. Sue went home to her Lord during the pandemic; her assailant is, after serving most of his prison sentence, on parole. But God is not done with him or his family...or any of us.

Sue does not get the glory in this story—she would be the first to say that all glory belongs to God! Sue knew the truths of the Bible, and that God’s word applies to us as

we each take our parts in the greatest story ever told... God’s Story.