DEATH, GRIEF, and HOPE In this third in our series on Suffering, Dr. Cynthia shares with us how experiences of grief differ based on the hope one has for heaven. In this year, both her mother and another close relative died. One was a believer in the gospel, the other was not. The grief surrounding their passings and funerals was such a contrast. It was an exact illustration of how the Bible describes grief and hope.
“… we want you to know what will happen to believers who died, so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.” I Thessalonians 4:13
The Christians at her mother’s funeral were sad, but they also laughed and had hope. They sang, “When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing it will be. When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory!”
The hopeless sadness at the other relative’s funeral, which came just a few weeks later, was in stark contrast.
We pray that those watching will have true hope in life, and that their mourners will have hope for them at their deaths.
As the Bible says, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance.” Ephesians 1:18
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Music by Joseph Nassrallah and Digital Juice, used with permission.
