Revelation 21: 3-4 NKJV
I've often wondered just how to approach someone who has suffered a personal loss. Be it a family member or close friend, people may feel the effects of grief for a number of reasons, even the loss of a pet. Until recently, I was pretty much untouched by this personal tragedy. Sure, I knew those around me who had lost someone close to them, but for the most part I had been isolated from it. However, as everyone knows, this does not last long. For we are all destined at one time or another to feel the sting of grief. This life we live is fleeting, even though we await the moment we will meet our Lord Jesus in the clouds. For those of us who have known the Lord Jesus, we await our eternity with Him. This is all fine to read in scripture, but often our hearts are not so quick to follow suit. It is here where it is helpful to lean on Gods word and the support of friends. However, sometimes even ones closest friends are unfamiliar with how to handle a grief situation. For unless one has personally experienced the pain of losing someone close to them, how can they empathize with another?
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 NKJV
There is hope for those who have experienced grief. The apostle Paul tells us this in 1 Thesselonians 4. The hope we share is that of the Lord Jesus. Paul tells us of those who "sleep" in Jesus. That is, those in Christ who have gone on before us. For when our own time comes, we shall all meet together in the clouds with our Lord Jesus. Will I see my mother agian? YES! She will certainly be there when my time comes, welcoming me home at last. This is our goal, that moment when, as Paul himself said in 2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race." For this we wait eagerly.
I mentioned the stereotype of grief, and I believe it is true. For if even I have difficulty in comforting someone who has experienced loss, then I'm sure others have as well. However, it's been my experience recently that even though others may notice the pain you are going through, their first inclanation may be that there is something definately wrong with you. On one hand they tell us that having feelings of grief and loss is all part of the normal grieving process. However, if one seemingly takes too long in this "natural" process, then obviously there is something wrong. Having experienced personal loss, I am a firm believer that there can be no timeline for ones recovery from grief. How do you tell a grieving husband or wife that they need to get over their grief? How do you tell a grieving parent to just "Get over it!" No, as with everything, our grief has a cycle. There will come that time when our hearts will heal. However, I feel that this has more to do with our Lords fullness of time than with our own. All seasons in our lives run their course, and this is no different. Yes, there will be pain, yet we await that moment where our Lord will wipe away every tear and we shall dwell in the house of our Lord forever.
~Scott~
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