Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today – the grief of the loss of love can never be removed from the path of life, but hope can ensure I can walk the road.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 TPT
[13] Beloved brothers and sisters, we want you to be quite certain about the truth concerning those who have passed away, so that you won’t be overwhelmed with grief like many others who have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who died while believing in him.
Observation
There is always a journey of grief when someone we love dies. It’s the grief of the lost joy of their presence. The joy of their shared life fuels our grief of their absence. And whilst grief is not to be fixed or shut down by some expression of strength, grief is also not to be overwhelming. Hope is our support, or ‘holder,’ in the journey of grief. Hope in the future of resurrected spiritual life in Jesus for those we love is the sustainer in us of our grief journeys. It’s our certainty based on the resurrection of Jesus that enables me to drink the cocktail of tears of grief over hope.
Death is the beauty of life. I am journeying with a very ill father currently and whilst he hangs onto life with a passion he also knows the beauty of his resurrected new spiritual body and heavenly dwelling. God created us for life and placed in us a fighting longing to live it fully for whatever time we can squeeze from its fragile existence. But we also hold to a promise of an amazing beyond this life future. The tension of staying here whilst living from the assurance of beauty there is a challenge in life. And this is the challenge for those who farewell loved ones. We stay here with our loss knowing that our loved ones have discovered and are experiencing the beauty of life – death. This is what enables us to journey through grief with hope.
Application
Hope journey grief is the posture I will take as I farewell those I love. I will not allow grief to overwhelm me for I will drink in grief with hope in their resurrected beautiful future.
Response
Thank you that death does not have a final word. Death is the start of the beauty and meaning of life, eternity in the beauty of you. Thank you that hope is mine because of your resurrection. I love this life where joy demands grief but hope enables grief.
Meditation
Meditate – you won’t be overwhelmed with grief
Consider:
Does your grief have a hope foundation?
JOURNEY DEEPER
