"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson: 1 Thessalonians 4:13

 April 6

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope." - 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NRSV)

There comes a time when we will all grieve. Seasons of grieving are difficult but grieving without hope is devastating. Paul wanted all Christians to understand in his letter to the Thessalonians that death is not the end of the story. The great hope for all believers is in the reality of the Resurrection. Because Jesus Christ triumphed over death when he came back to life, so will all believers, including those who have already died. Therefore, we need not live in permanent hopeless despair when loved ones die. Although we will grieve, grief can be a healthy time of trusting the Lord with our feelings, tears, sadness, and loss. For we can rest assured that, in his time, God can and will turn tragedy to triumph, poverty to riches, pain to glory, defeat to victory, and death to life. There will come a time when all believers throughout history will stand reunited in God's presence, safe and secure. As Paul comforted the Thessalonians with the promise of resurrection through Christ, so can we comfort each other with this great hope.

We all need to remember Christianity does not forbid or deny healthy grieving or the expression of our natural feelings and emotions. Even Jesus wept. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus his friend, he wept over Jerusalem before his Passover season entry, and he wept in the Garden of Gethsemane before his crucifixion. Yet in all cases, Jesus did not weep as those without hope but did something to transform those hopeless situations to victories for God. He raised Lazarus from the dead, brought hope to the hopeless in Jerusalem, and broke the power of death for all time after surrendering his own will to God his Father at Gethsemane. Therefore, none of us ever need to grieve as those without hope!

Prayer: Lord of Hope, Thank you removing my fears and bringing your comfort in seasons of grief and loss. Amen.

Meditation For The Day: Healthy Grief always has hope.

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)