FINDING COMFORT THROUGH FAITH |
"Jesus said unto her,
I am the resurrection, and the life:
he that believeth in me, though he were dead,
yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
Believest thou this?"
(John 11:25-26)
I have a very dear friend and neighbor, whose Mother went home to be with the Lord this week. Sitting here thinking and praying for God's comfort to surround her and dry her tears brings to mind the emotions I had in the loss of my daughter Jennifer, in a fatal car accident several years ago. I was a little hesitant to write this message, but felt compelled to do so, in hope that it may help and comfort those of you who may have lost loved ones also or are still finding difficulty in accepting their absence from us.
Because I am a Christian, my faith brought an important dimension to my grieving experience. Did my faith eliminate the pain? No, the pain was very real. Did my faith eliminate the anger that I felt because her life ended at the early age of 14? No. I experienced all these feelings.
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." -1 Thessalonians 4:13
My faith provided the ability to grieve, not as those who have no hope, but as one who has the hope of the resurrection. Scripture passages bring a unique degree of comfort as they help me focus my thoughts on the hope that I have in Christ and our future presence with Him.
"We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I BELIEVED, AND THEREFORE HAVE I SPOKEN; we also believe, and therefore speak; knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you." - 2 Corinthians 4:13,14
Paul did not consider death to be the end. He looked on beyond. Death was merely one of the experiences which he would encounter. There is comfort in laying down your life for Jesus' sake. Paul is saying here that he is joined to a living Christ. He is dead to the things of the world because he is joined to a living Christ. "He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus." Alleluia!!
"And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." John 16:22
Regardless of where you are or who you are, if you have accepted Jesus in your heart, you are a child of God. If you are in sorrow and there are tears in your eyes, if your heart is broken, be assured that joy cometh in the morning. He is going to bring joy into your life. And when we get in His presence and look back on this life, if we have any regrets, they should be because we didn't suffer more for Him. The joy of His presence will overwhelm any sorrow we may have had here on earth.
The promises from God's Word bring a new dimension to the grief experience ~ the dimension of hope that allows me to know that someday I will be with Jesus Christ and with whom I love who have died knowing Him. Let His promises abide in you also. There is much comfort through faith in Christ Jesus.
May God bless you all with an abundance of faith in all aspects of life here on earth.
Heavenly Father, we ask that You please comfort those who are grieving from the loss of loved ones. Lord, help strengthen them physically, but more so spiritually reminding them of Your tragic loss of Your only Son, Jesus, who You sacrificed for us so that we may have eternal life. In Jesus' precious name we pray. Amen.
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