God is always touched by the feelings of our infirmities; whatever they may be. He wants to comfort hurting souls; especially those that are grieving do to the loss of a loved one to death.
The passing of family members and dear friends is very hard to bear, but God has sent the Holy Spirit to comfort and bring needed strength at these times.
When misfortune or hardship knocks at our door, it is most difficult to face these trials alone, without a support group. The hurt can be unbearable without help coming alongside to provide understanding and personal consideration to those in mourning.
God’s compassion is like a refreshing drink of cool, fresh water to a parching tongue. Nothing can console like God. He knows our need before we ask for help. He said in the Bible that we can ask and then receive.
(Luke 11:9), “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
God supplies our needs in many ways…through circumstances or happenings that we sometimes call coincidence; through the coming together of family and friends that are united for a common goal; and through private, quiet times with God in our ‘closet of prayer’. One way or another, God brings peace.
The bonding of family members in times of crises under girds everyone concerned. Varying differences of opinion and personality clashes seem to fade, because pettiness has no place at such difficult times. The quote, “Blood is thicker than water” proves to be reality when comforting those we love.
I’ve been told that people have heard angels singing at the passing of a loved one; or those that are grieving have seen the room become brighter, because of the presence of God’s glory. Visions have also been experienced by family members of the deceased. Whatever it takes to bring comfort and solace, God will do. He knows exactly what individuals need to help them through the grieving process.
Just recently, at the passing of my brother-in-law, as his youngest son was crying and saying goodbye, an amazing thing happened! All of a sudden, through his tears, he saw his dad running and leaping, no longer encumbered with pain and suffering! God gave him a vision!
This experience brought a calmness and peace to his grieving soul. The knowledge of past teachings that Jesus Christ is the ‘hope’ of Christians must have become a certainty at that time when feelings of loss were so great. He knew where his dad was! He was with the Lord, in a new body!
My sister told me at the moment of his passing, the word ‘Empty’ entered her mind. She realized that her husband of 58 years had departed from the fleshly housing that he had occupied for 79 years. His spirit was gone. He was no longer there. He had crossed over to his reward in heaven. But she knew that one day she would see him again…her hope.
Without this hope we would be most miserable at the passing of loved ones. We know where their new residence is—a glorified body—one without pain. This is what my nephew experienced in his vision; his dad running and leaping in that wonderful, new body.
(1 Corinthians 15:22 ), “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”
Jesus is the hope of the Christian. If we know Him as our personal Savior, we have peace in the knowledge that we will live again! “Know Jesus, know peace / no Jesus, no peace.”
God knew what my nephew needed that day to help him cope with his loss. That vision was also a blessing to the rest of the family as he shared his amazing experience with them. God knows what we need!
Dying is a part of living, but it’s the finality of the departure, and the crossing over that brings sorrow and a sense of loss. If our loved ones and friends know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, we sorrow not as others, because we know they are in a better place; in the presence of God; free from suffering, and free to enjoy all that Jesus had prepared for their homecoming celebration. This is the hope of Christians!
(1 Corinthians 13:11-13), “When I was a child, I spoke as a child; I understood as a child; I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. vs.12 “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” vs.13 “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Though we may not understand the things that come our way, we can know that God has everything in control. We see in part, but one day we will understand the reasons why. All questions will be answered.
God’s love is perfect. He made a way that mankind can be reunited with Him, through His son Jesus. We need a Savior, because we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. He desires that every person repent of their sins and become a child of God.
(2 Corinthians 5:17 ), “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Papa Boyd
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