6 highlights from Caleb Flynn's sentencing: 'You killed the only mother I ever had,' daughter says
3. Sister-in-law reveals niece asked, ‘Why should I believe in Jesus if He allowed this to happen to us?’
Flynn’s sister-in-law Kayla Keyt read a victim impact statement in the courtroom, reminding those gathered in the courtroom that “Ashley loved her best friend Jesus with everything in her.” Stressing that “she wanted people to know Him and know the hope of Heaven,” Keyt insisted that Ashley would want people not to let her murder cause them to “turn away from the faith” and “judge Jesus by the actions of people who claim to follow him.”
Keyt discussed a conversation she had with one of her nieces, who asked “Why should I even believe in Jesus if He allowed this to happen to us?” Lamenting that “Ashley’s own daughter was questioning the Jesus her mommy had spent her entire life teaching her to love,” Keyt recalled how she assured her that “Christianity isn’t about following Jesus because he promises to fix everything, heal everything or prevent terrible things from happening.”
“We live in such a broken world and it is the exact reason why Jesus came down on this earth, to sacrifice himself on our behalf so that He can live amongst us to comfort us when we are hurting. We follow Jesus because of who He is, for He is faithful and trustworthy and He does not promise a problem-free life but He does promise that He will never forsake us and He will walk alongside of us and comfort us every step of our journey through the valley of the shadow of death.”
Keyt discussed how she told her niece that her mother was “in paradise because Jesus died for her,” adding “Because of His sacrifice and resurrection, when her life on this earth ended, she ran straight into the arms of her best friend Jesus.” She assured her that “Even in unimaginable suffering, God still leaves reminders of his goodness everywhere: the sun warming our skin, beautiful flowers and colorful trees, food on our table that we don’t have to beg for, a warm hug from someone who loves us.”
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
