Psalms 30:5, “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Greetings! Hope this finds everyone filled with the refreshing fall air tickling their noses! Maybe you are taking a walk to look about the foliage of changing leaves on all the bushes, and trees! When fall begins, we sometimes think of how everything seems to be fading, or losing life, or dying on the outside though living inside. Today, the topic is on where is death’s sting; or why does it feel like it’s never-ending? In retrospect, people should not be surprised by grief, nor should we deny it or feel guilty for hurting. We as believers have a better understanding of how to endure because we have been given the knowledge of how Jesus acknowledged the deep pain and weeping His disciples would experience. He had taught them how sorrow would eventually turn into a joy that no one could take away. Believers mourn the physical separation, but do not lose eternal hope. Grief is normal and it is natural. Rev. Billy Graham emphasized that feeling sorrow, shock, anger or loneliness is not a sign of a weak faith, but is actually a reflection of a deep love. As believers we do have hope of eternal life in heaven, we cannot be kept from human heartbreak, pain and sorrow of losing loved ones. Even Jesus wept at the tomb of His beloved friend, Lazarus. Though Jesus knew his death was for a reason, He grieved because He was human too, and He felt the pain just as we do when faced with loss. Over time we do manage the pain with memories of happy times, fun times with those who passed; thus, bringing joy and peace that one day we will be with them in heaven. This is the promise that God has given us all. We are to help spread the gospel of Christ to bring all of our loved ones, all of our friends, anyone we meet, to the knowledge of God’s saving power so they too can have the same hope we have. The hope of dying, yet living! Jesus offers each of us the promise of eternal life, assuring mourners that physical death is NOT final, not the END, for those who believe in Him! In John 11, Jesus explained to Martha that He is the resurrection and life, that whether we die or live we are His and if we die we will still live with Him in Glory one day! So, if you have felt grief, pain, deep sorrow; if you have felt like nothing could heal that pain, call on God. Give those burdens to Him and let Him come lift you out of despair; let Him save your soul and show you how you can live now, die now, live better, live later in heaven! Know and understand that you are so loved that even Jesus wept for you, for me, for each person in this world as He took the burden of our sins by dying on a cross so we wouldn’t have to! He knows how it feels to grieve and He wants to help you work through sorrow and lift you to a place of manageable living. There are also others that will work with you and just be there with you through it by praying, lifting you in silent understanding. Tell the devil that death has no sting; that God is the comforter that calms all things!
Scriptures:
Read: John 11:25-26, Psalms 34:18, Acts 24:15, I Corinthians 15:55, Matthew 5:3-12, John 5:24, John 16:22, Romans 6:23, I Thessalonians 4:13-14, II Corinthians 5:8, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, Revelation 21:4, Revelation 14:13, Romans 8:38-39
Prayer:
Precious heavenly Father, we come now asking you to enter into our hearts and minds with a healing like no other that will calm the grieving when we are experiencing pain and sorrow. Thank you, Father, for the words in the Bible that we can read and acknowledge that can give us solace during times of pain and grief. Help us Father, to accept praying friends, family and others who can lift us during these times. Help us Father, to remember the good times, the good moments, the loving memories so joy will come, laughter will bring peace to console our souls. Thank you, Father, for your healing peace that can come if we just call on you. Amen.