Navigating Grief, With Comfort and Hope

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him. - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Nearly nine years ago, my life changed forever when my childhood fears came to fruition: the reality of having to navigate the rest of my life without my momma.

I was a different person then, devoid of the understanding of what death really means. Although I was a year shy of 50 years old, I’d never opened a Bible for any meaningful length of time; if I had, my grief for my mom would have been vastly different. I think this is true of most people who deal with grief. The emotions involved are a chaotic mix of feeling lost, inconsolable sadness, anger, unmotivated, and, overall, a sense of selfish desperation for “just one more day” with the person we lost.

I handled my mom’s death very badly. Death is never something we want to think or talk about, even though it is an inevitable part of life. But if we don’t talk about it, we can’t prepare for it properly. We merely “tiptoe” around the subject, until it becomes “too morbid” to delve into very deeply…almost like avoiding talking or thinking about it will make it go away.

But it doesn’t.

While death is defined, by most people, as the end of physical life, its real meaning is far more serious, according to Scripture. Ignoring its true meaning can carry eternal consequences, depending on beliefs. While most are focused on the loss that comes with the physical death of a loved one, it’s important to remember that a spiritual transition is happening in the unseen Kingdom of God. It doesn’t matter if we believe or not; the spiritual transition is as inevitable as physical death.

We don’t cease to exist when we pass away, and to live as though there is nothing after our physical life is an extremely dangerous practice. As our Creator, God has all power and authority to decide what happens to us, based on whether we had faith and belief in our Savior.

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That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. - Romans 10:9

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The most comforted, following the death of a loved one, are those who have assurance that s/he is in Heaven, in the presence of Jesus. Although there is understandable sorrow over the loss, there is also the promise of a Heavenly reunion one day. This is why it’s so important for us to believe in and spread the gospel to everyone we know - so that we can all be assured of an eternity together with our Father.

To those who wonder about the fate of babies and children who tragically pass away before they have a chance at life, I would like to leave you with a link to a book by John MacArthur - “Safe in the Arms of God: Truth from Heaven About the Death of a Child” - which is based on Scripture. People who have read and rated this book give it 5-stars for the comfort and hope it has provided. The book gives me comfort in knowing that I will one day get to meet my nephew, who was miscarried in the early months of pregnancy. ❤️

The good news is, our Almighty Father is merciful and forgiving. He gives us so many chances to turn to Him so that we receive His free gift of eternal life. No matter how distant we are from Him, or how ingrained we are in our sin, we only need to ask for His forgiveness, and surrender our lives to Him for assurance of entry into His Kingdom. When we accept our Savior, and obey His Commandments, we are saved from death.

God tells us how His story ends, and we get to choose which ending will apply to us.

God Bless you and may He keep you, and everyone you love, safe in His loving arms always. ✝️🙏🏻❤️

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The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? - Psalm 27:1

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