True Hope

Today we celebrate the life of Laura Culp/Grandma to many of us. Even though we celebrate her life, it is perfectly normal to lament. It is normal to be grieved. It is normal to feel upset, stunned, shocked, or not even know how to feel.

This is normal because you have just lost someone you love. Your heart hurts, and you have been struck. I know the weight on your heart is immense. Sadness is a natural result of losing the one you love so dearly. It is healthy to feel sad as it is your heart honoring the one you love. In your sadness, you are expressing your love. You miss them deeply; you miss them badly. All of this is understandable and natural.

The prophet Jeremiah knew all too well what grief was. He wrote a whole book in the Bible called Lamentations. He was lamenting many sorrows. Even in his suffering and lamenting, he knew that God was faithful. This also is what I want you to know today.

There is a hope to cling to in these trying times. God is still on the throne. God is here today, offering comfort to all who are grieving. As the prophet Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations 3:22-24; “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.”

God is not only our sovereign God–He is not a God that just set the world on its own to struggle and find its way; no, He is our FATHER God. As our Father, He does not desire that any die. He does not rejoice at our suffering. He states in Scripture, “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God…” (Eze. 18:32). Scripture also says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Ps. 116:15).

This means that each person that is the Lords is 1) a saint and 2) it pains the Lord when one of His dies. It also means that the death of those who are His is precious to Him because it means that His faithful servants are no longer in pain, sickness, servitude, or the struggles this life brings. It was much like the words of the apostle Paul when he said, “For to live is Christ, but to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21).

Paul was not saying death itself was good; no, he was saying since our death is so precious to the Lord, we will immediately be in such astonishing amazement 2 Cor. 5:8 says, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” and that the amazingness is things no man can uttered Paul said in 2 Cor. 12:4 that it is so much better than living here. That is the situation of the saint who goes home.

Even though that is the case, sadly, the death of our loved ones still impacts those of us left here. Death does happen to all who live at some point. All life will come to an end. As James, the half-brother of Jesus, said, “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (Jas. 4:14b). This is why it is so important to lean on the words of the prophet Jeremiah, “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.”

It is in these times that we see the love of God not cease. He has given us family and friends as comforters. He draws forth the memories that have been forgotten for so long. Death causes us to remember the good times and the love we had with our dearly loved one that has passed on.

But, if one is a believer, God has sent the ultimate comforter, The Holy Spirit. This is where we receive our ultimate comfort. As believers, we can have true comfort in death because of this. The Christian believes that death is not an ending but stepping into eternity. Jesus Christ has conquered death.

Just as He told Martha after her brother Lazarus had died, she was terribly upset and in deep mourning. He told her this, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). To this, Martha exclaimed, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God” (John 11:27).

Jesus, here, promises all that believe in Him never really die, but they live. This is comfort in death. This is why, as believers, we can have joy even in our grief. Therefore, we can say as Jeremiah does, “The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.”

As Christians, we have hope. Christ is our hope. He has done everything for us. The question is just as He asked Martha, “Do you believe?” If you do, you have this comfort. God is our comfort. He is our Father that so loves you that He sent His only Son to take the sins of this fallen world on Himself for you. Jesus has borne them all, and He knows our sufferings, and He knows your grief. He can comfort you if you allow Him to do so.

Another comfort that we can have at this time is that God knew Laura/Grandma’s heart. We, as friends or family, knew her, but God knows the heart. God truly knew her. As the Scriptures say, “the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). This is comforting because we know that God is sovereign and in control. He has charge over His creation and creatures. He knows the things that we can only ponder. So, allow the knowledge that God knew Laura/Grandma’s heart to comfort you in these days.

Also, do not forget that God’s mercies are new every day. They are not here and there mercy. No, they are every day. God is merciful and full of compassion. He loves His creation and all that He created. He offers comfort to you. He has it extended to you now, just take it and lean on Him. God can and will carry you through this terribly difficult time. I know this because:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

Hope in Him, Hope in God, and He will give you comfort, He will relieve your mourning, He will lift you up and lead you through these trying times. Not only will He lead you, but He will carry you.