Part 3 of 4 Grief series
Job asked What strength do I have that I should still hope?
What prospects that I should be patient? Job 6:11
This is how one feels when the loss of a loved one is fresh and even not so fresh.
But when we look to the Bible our guide for walking this earth. We find our source of hope.
We are reminded
- that we do not walk through this by ourselves,
- joy will return
- hope that we will see our Christian loved one again and
- that we are to be hope.
Jesus will be with you as you go through this valley
Isaiah 43:1–2 (HCSB): “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged."
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted Matthew 5:4
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5
Hope that we will see our Christian loved one again
Isaiah 26:19 19 But your dead will live, Lord; their bodies will rise—
let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy—
your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.
Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
John 5:27-29 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
1 Corinthians 15:52 NLT It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.
That Joy will return
“will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (Revelation 21:4 NIV)
.John 16:22 (NIV), “I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
We are to be hope
Romans 15:13 NLT I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 3:15 ESV but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
It is this final verse that sticks with me we will not have a smooth life as Christians yet in the midst of trials and valleys and hardships we should have hope and we should be able to say why we have hope.
That hope in hard times will be attractive to those without Christ and sometimes those who are faltering in their walk with Christ. When they ask why are you hopeful speak with respect and gentleness explaining that your hope is God.
Missed the other posts in this series?
Part 1 Grief and the promises of God