Grief brings heartache…
As I write to you I come from a place of grief as I am in the midst of funeral arrangements for my dearly loved uncle. That day is one that looms ahead and I’ve been weakened by the waves of emotion. There is no way around the hurt. Death isn’t something foreign to us for almost all of us have experienced the passing of a loved one. Death is a part of life, and sadly, grieving is a part of the process.
But as we are confronted with death there are profound things that take place. We become keenly aware of our own mortality and the importance of having faith in the only true and living God. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
What does the Lord say about grief and death?
You may not know it but the Word of God contains soothing scriptures that give you glimpses into the hereafter. The verses are like a salve that heal the hurting places and even bring joy in the midst of pain.
Here are 5 scriptures that have brought me peace in the midst of my grief:
- “No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”
Psalms 16:9-11 NLT
We can rejoice because our soul is no longer held captive in weak and fragile vessels. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
2. “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NLT
We have an everlasting hope because we will see those believers who have passed on before us again in Heaven. Our goodbyes are not forever.
“There is an end to grief, it’s called Heaven”
3. “Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies–so the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.”
Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 NLT
The grief we experience here on earth has a refining effect on us. It is good to think about what happens after we die for we should be Kingdom-minded and have hearts that are prepared for eternity.
4. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
Lamentations 3:20-23 NLT
It hurts to mourn someone who has passed but there are new beginnings each morning. Every day offers new hope and a joy that only the Lord can provide.
5. “”I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn, bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the Lord, who heals them.”
Isaiah 57:18-19 NLT
Our God is faithful and delivers on His promises. One of those promises is comfort and I have witnessed this first hand. He continually heals me.
The Lord heals the brokenhearted and wipes away their tears #saltandlightlinkup Share on X
So, instead of despairing, I rejoice.
After much prayer and being brought to these scriptures I have renewed hope of being reunited with my uncle. How faithful is our God that he cares about us and comforts us in our grief. Grieving is a journey and I’m at the beginning of this road. I have no doubts that the Lord will turn my mourning into joyful dancing just as His Word declares.
“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!
Psalms 30:11-12 NLT
Today I’m honored to feature Vicki Munton from Watering Can Blog. She wrote a brilliant post that spoke profound truths directly to my heart called “When Life Doesn’t Make Sense“. Death doesn’t make sense to us who are living. It causes pain and doubt but God promises are still true. How wonderful that we serve a God who gives us glimpses into eternity.
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