Sadness
Are you grieving the loss of a loved one? The Bible lends its comfort by letting us read of Jesus’ experience with the loss of his close friend, Lazarus. His sorrow was summed up in two words; “Jesus wept.” John 11:35 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” John 11:36
The Bible tells us we can encourage each other with these words when we feel sorrow and are sad over the loss of a loved one, especially for one who loved the Lord.
We are to remind each other that we share the hope they had. So, we grieve their absence and are comforted to know we have hope that we will see them again.
“Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about those Christians who have died so you will not be sad, as others who have no hope.
We believe that Jesus died and that he rose again. So, because of him, God will raise with Jesus those who have died.
The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And those who have died believing in Christ will rise first.
After that, we who are still alive will be gathered up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with the Lord forever.
So encourage each other with these words. There is hope! (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, 16-18)
If you are grieving, you do not have to experience it alone. Grief is a journey, not an event.
Our congregation offers GriefShare to anyone interested in participating in a free 13-session, faith-based support group. A fall session begins September 3rd on Tuesday evenings and September 6th on Friday mornings.
For more information, please check out our GriefShare page here or call 860-646-2903
–Beth Stafford, for the Manchester church of Christ