So comfort one another with this hope and encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Voice
After my first husband died, I was amazed at how few people really knew what to say. They seemed uncomfortable about the topic and would blurt out platitudes like, “He’s in a better place.” Now this is true but at that moment I didn’t want him to be gone. I was hurting. Their words seemed shallow and empty.
I like this verse because it admonishes us not to grieve as those who have no hope. Hope comes from a deep knowledge of our relationship with the Lord and the promises in His Word. He says in this passage that those who “fell asleep” in the Lord will one day be reunited with us. That is a comforting thought because my husband did not wake up. I believe that his first breath of Heaven was especially sweet because of the physical difficulties his earth suit was having in that area.
It’s interesting that the comfort comes from HOPE rather than words. I give courage with words but HOPE must come from a conviction that there is more to this life than what we see with our eyes. The conviction is that we are eternal beings and that our loved one is truly having a glorious time with Jesus. Not only that, we can say it confidently because it is in God’s Word.
May you be encouraged today with these words and comforted with this hope.
#fiveminutefriday #hopeispowerful #hope
Author, speaker, corporate trainer, ordained minister and Hope Catalyst, Karen Sebastian enjoys sharing her rich life experiences with others – engaging them in adventurous discoveries of the beauty of hope in a dark, cloudy world. Her books will inspire you to embrace hope no matter what you are going through.
