Grief points us to heaven
In 2022, I lost my mother, mother-in-law and father in a three-month span. My mom and dad’s deaths were expected and a welcome end to their suffering. But my mother-in-law’s heart attack came suddenly on a Sunday morning. My sense of loss grew with each one’s passing. My mom’s pastor helped me as he visited with the family and we shared stories to express our grief. His funeral message helped us find hope in the resurrection, pointing to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, which includes the phrase, ““But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” That passage lays out God’s plan for believers to know that their faithfully departed loved one is in the presence of the Lord. And to look forward to the second coming when Christ comes to unite saints in heaven with those still alive and having hope in their salvation through faith in Jesus. That hope does negate our grief. Rather it teaches us how to long for heaven.
God knows our losses from experience
The ache of loss moved me to seek God in prayer. He’s a God that hears every spoken and unspoken word directed his way. In his loving kindness, he answers through his word, “surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4). His only son, Jesus Christ, died at the hands of ruthless men. It was for the purpose of winning forgiveness for all those who believe this. He also raised Jesus from the dead on the third day in resurrection victory. So, he knows the pain of losing a son and his mercy extends to every person mourning the loss of a loved one.