Dealing With Death, Part Three
“We Can Grieve With Hope”
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13, NKJV.
When we lose a loved one, it may feel as if a part of ourselves has been taken with them. We grieve the moments we’ll no longer be able to share and the dreams or desires that may never be realized. Though this pain is real and deep, if our loved one knew Jesus Christ as their Savior, our sorrow is always connected with the certainty that one day, we will see them again.
Many who deal with death have no hope because their loved one was not saved through Jesus Christ. The “no hope” concept comes because there is no hope of ever seeing that person again. Even though we mourn greatly, “our hope” is based on the biblical promise that we will see them again because they knew Christ as their Savior. Of course, it then becomes imperative that we, ourselves, also know Christ as Savior.
I have done several funerals for infants. That is always difficult for all involved. A person told me, “that must have been the hardest funeral you have ever done”. I told the man the funeral for the infant was not the hardest funeral I had ever done; the hardest funeral I have ever done was for a man that I knew had rejected Christ over and over and the family had “no hope” of ever seeing their loved one again.
One of the most important words for healing after the death of a loved one is the word, “hope”. And that hope, will be the hope that the separation from our loved one is only temporary and a glorious and eternal reunion is just around the corner.
Be encouraged today, in knowing that your grief is normal and God gave you that emotion to help you recover from the death of your loved one. However, God also gives us hope that one day will overcome the grief and sorrow so we can focus only on the day of that great reunion that God will give to His followers.
With Blessing,
Riley