Deep grief...unshakable hope

    "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep." (I Thess.4:13-14)
     This morning, on the way to church, our youngest son and I prayed for a young man who was badly injured in an accident.  While we don't know this young man personally, nor does he or his family know us, I feel like we've come to know him and love him simply through the privilege of prayer.  And I cannot help but think of--and thank the Lord again for--all the folks who prayed for Janie and the girls in the accident a year and a half ago.  Many of them people we'll never meet or know this side of heaven.  Oh what a priceless gift to be a part of the body of Christ!
     Peter and I been praying together for this young man, morning and evening, ever since we learned of his accident.  And we prayed once again this morning for his healing and for strength for his family.
     But at church, we learned that God had taken him home--truly Home.  Oh what unimaginable joy for him...but what terrible sorrow for his family and friends left behind.  And I was reminded both of this verse from I Thessalonians and of something I recently heard by a pastor named Jim Garlow--
      "We are not as those who grieve with no hope, nor are we as those who hope with no grief.  We have unshakably strong hope.  We have indescribably deep grief."
     Amen.  That is how Christians face death--both with indescribably deep grief because we will miss our loved one so much and with unshakably strong hope because we know our loved ones in Christ are enjoying the unfathomable wonders of heaven.  It's grief...and hope.  As I've shared so many times, death has taught me that we can have both deep pain in our hearts yet also a song in our soul.  A song of resurrection.  A song of hope.
     As we walked out of church, Peter said to me, "Well, God answered our prayers.  He healed him."  And He has.  Completely, fully, perfectly.
     Father, for all those grieving such losses this day, please give them a clear vision of Your hope.  Not hope so, but know so.  Hope that's based upon a rugged cross, an empty tomb, and a risen Savior.  Even as they grieve, Father, give them unshakable hope.  For You have promised, "I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)            Yes, Lord we believe.  Thank You for the promise that death is not the end...but the beginning of real Life-with a capital L.  Thank You for the hope and joy of heaven.  And thank You for those who are, right now,  experiencing the infinite joys of that hope fully and finally fulfilled.  We rejoice for them and weep for those left behind.  Oh Father, we pray, give them Your unshakably strong hope.
     To God--Who is the Resurrection and the Life--be all the glory.