Hope In The Midst Of Grief

Hope in the Midst of Grief

Women Mourning Jesus’ Death

Rebecca dropped to her knees by the new tombstones glinting in the spring sunshine, one large and two small ones. It still seemed so unreal. . . . She had stayed home to get ready for the twins’ birthday party, not knowing that a drunk driver would change her life forever. Doubling over, Rebecca exploded into tears once again. If only I hadn’t been so busy that morning. . . . If only I had known that it was the last time I would see them, the last chance to say “I love you.” . . . If I could just tell them good-bye and hug them one last time. . . . If only . . .

Jesus’ sudden arrest and crucifixion must have seemed unreal to the women who loved and followed him. This was not how they expected things to turn out. The Messiah of Israel, who had taught them God’s Word, healed their diseases, and loved them, was cruelly murdered. They had devoted themselves to serving Jesus; now he had been taken away from them. If only I had known that it was the last time I would get to talk with him. . . . If only I had done more to show him that I loved him. . . . If I could just look into his eyes once again and say thank you.

We never know when we will see someone for the last time. After the death of a loved one, our minds may dwell on things that we wish we had said to them or things we could have done differently. If the death came suddenly, we ache to tell them good-bye. The normal grieving process takes time, but if our loved ones believed in Jesus, we have the comfort of knowing that we will see them again. We can cling to the promise that they are safe in God’s hands and that we will join them someday. Then our “if onlys” will disappear, and we will spend eternity together.

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.

1 Thessalonians 4:13