And now, 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 NLT
The pain of separation is extremely difficult. It is never easy to lose a loved one when parted by death. We weep and mourn, trying to accept what we can’t change. The heartbreak is hard to face; it’s like a dull ache that doesn’t go away. Life changes in an instant. However, believers do have a special comfort and hope.
As Christians, we believe that one day we will be reunited with our loved ones. The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NIV), “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
Death is certainly something to grieve, but we do not have to dwell on that grief. Revelation 21:4 (NIV) says, “He [the Lord] will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Faith in our Lord’s death and resurrection offers us hope in both life and death.
Praise and thank God for comforting you during periods of mourning.
Give God thanks for the gift of eternal life and for the knowledge that one day you will be reunited with your loved ones who are in Heaven.