TEARS AND JOY

It seems like our church has been praying more than usual.  We are praying for a very little boy who lives with pain and a future with many medical procedures.  We pray for his family too.  We pray for Covid to end.  We pray for a young man with cancer.  We pray for those in nursing homes and those that have to throw kisses through a window.  We pray for our nation, our neighbors, and even strangers.  We pray for our pastor, as he prays for all of us.  We pray for families who have recently told a loved one goodbye.

We have had a number of families telling loved ones goodbye.  Spouses.  Favorite aunts.  Fathers.  Brothers.  Mothers.  Sisters.  Friends.  Our rural church has a few less brothers and sisters in Christ sitting in the pews.  Our congregation has offered sympathy.  Our congregation has shared memories and prepared food.  Our congregation has shed tears. 

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, ….. will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.   Romans 8:part of 38-39

(Jesus speaking) My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.   John 14:2-3

Even knowing the promises, we shed tears.

BUT – mixed in with the tears, we celebrated our loved ones with joy!  Yes, grief is there.  Grief fills every inch of the room.  Grief is in every word spoken.  BUT – mixed with the grief is joy.  A joy that some cannot understand.  A joy that seems out of place with the tears.  BUT – it is there!  A joy that surrounds the grief and makes it bearable.  A joy that allows the heart to remember death is not the end.

(Jesus speaking) So with you:  Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.  John 16:22

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

And that is what we do!  We trust in HIM!  We stand on HIS promises.

(Jesus speaking) No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man.  Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.  John 3:13-14

Ecclesiastes 3 tells us there is a time for everything.  There is a time to die and weep and mourn.  But --- there is a time to heal and laugh and dance.

The sympathy offered to the families and friends is genuine.  Our grief is consuming, but it is for only a time.  Our joy is real and it is for eternity.