After attending a grief seminar on a Wednesday a while back, I came out of it feeling like it was a really sad time; and there was a resolution in my spirit that that was not the path I wanted to walk. This was because everybody was kind of stuck in their grief and sharing sad stories from that headspace. I felt like I was reliving the first few days after Walter’s going home: kind of like walking into a room flooded with water that was heavy on the legs.
Something else I noted was that three-quarters of the attendees were women and that got me thinking and talking to God about death. The name widowed just didn’t sit well with me and that is not who I see myself as.
Side note: Grief is real, and it has the power to control you if YOU LET IT! Please don’t give it room, and if you are stuck, please find help. There is HELP, trust me.
Now I believe death should not be leaving us with so much pain and grief because it has no stain on our lives anymore. Of course, having lost my Walter, I did experience that pain, but what I realized was that Jesus took the sting out of death. I see it now simply as a doorway to the next life.
Have you ever noticed how this life basically makes us see death as something horrible because we no longer have physical access to the loved one? Also, there is a hush-hush feeling surrounding it and people simply fear it because of the unknown beyond that door.
But I tell you this, if you know Jesus, you realize what Paul says in Philippians 1:21-22 [Easy Version], is totally true:
All the trials and tests we have to go through are for a season, don’t allow it to become a life sentence.
So we do need to speak about it, after all, it is appointed for man to be born once; and unless we are destined for the rapture, it’s also appointed for one to die once.
Everyone must die once. Then they are judged. So Christ was offered as a sacrifice one time to take away the sins of many people. And he will come a second time, but not to offer himself for sin. He will come the second time to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.– Hebrews 9:27-28
But, for those born again in Christ Jesus, there is the eternal HOPE of spending eternity with God. You don’t have to live fearing death or being morbid about it!
Here is a little something the Holy Spirit revealed to me to help me think pleasantly when the fear of death comes!
Declare‘“ Death you have no hold on me! Jesus already conquered you! I choose to live fully present here on earth and when it is over, I have a future and a hope waiting for me in Heaven!” so go away you morbid thoughts of death, because Death Ends At The Heaven
Remember, this life we are living is temporary, and even if we live to 120 years which is ideal, this life will end.
This thought reminded me of a time I spoke to my cousins about the plans I had for whenever God called me home.
I was of the impression that money shouldn’t be wasted to carry my body over to Kenya but to my surprise, one of them told me that this decision wasn’t up to me, which in essence, is true.
When you are dead, it’s up to the people remaining to bury you, but it shouldn’t have animosity or sadness about it. I think it’s okay to plan, but it’s not okay to be overly absorbed with the fear of death for we have hope.
Remember, that any kind of fear is a sin for a child of God because we are to live by faith in the Almighty GOD. Think about it, we truly end up wasting valuable time worrying about things that we have no control over.
Brothers and sisters, continue to think about what is good and worthy of praise. Think about what is true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. – Philippians 4:8
From the above we see the Bible gives us a neat list of things we should think of any time frivolous, untrue thoughts come over, turn them off with those positive thoughts.
Thoughts are like seeds, if you think about them long enough and give them a voice by speaking them out, they will germinate. That is why you have to learn to filter your thoughts. Any thought that is not lovely, or pleasant, or right, just don’t allow it to germinate. Switch it off and counter it with a positive word of God.
If you find that Satan is trying to threaten you with thoughts of premature death, you need to know, that is a lie because God’s word says “He will satisfy you with long life”
I will give to him a long life, so that he is happy. He will see that I have the power to save people. Psalm 91:16 [EASY]
Never mind that some of your relatives died young, you are born of God and you have a right to live long. It is your heritage. Choose to believe the Word of God and trust Him to keep you because He is well able.
Hide these words in your heart for they will help to counter the effects of negative thoughts.
Without a doubt, we can miss the people when they’re gone but the Bible says that we shouldn’t mourn like those who don’t have hope because our hope is in the Lord.
Enlarge your mind to think beyond the here and now. For those who are born again and stay in Christ find death is a door to eternal life. There shall be a reunion and we will see those who have gone ahead. That is a good thought to keep hope alive.
Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about those who have died. We don’t want you to be sad like other people—those who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again after death. So, we also believe that people who have died as Christians WILL RISE AGAIN!– 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
Remember, hope keeps grief where it belongs, at the cross of Calvary; because of Jesus, we thank God for His precious sacrifice! He already bore our grief.
The fact is, it was our suffering he took on himself; he bore our pain. But we thought that God was punishing him, that God was beating him for something he did. – Isaiah 53:4 [Easy]
That cliche word people always say “the dearly departed are in a better place’’ it is partly true, but only if you have made that choice in John 3:16. For God so Love The WWW [ Whole Wide World] that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
So how do we have this conversation in our families? DEATH IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE IN LIFE.
I leave you with this hope and invitation: if you have not made Jesus your personal savior, come and open your heart. He is knocking and if you open up and let him in, he will come and make his dwelling with you.
He will forgive your past mistakes and start a new life in and with you! You will be Born Again! Make that decision, and you can live without fear knowing who is taking care of you, that He is the Almighty God.
The ball is in your court, you can choose to score or bounce it off and the choice is totally up to you! May God draw you to himself and show you his salvation, through His Son Jesus Christ.
If you already made that decision, then do diligently what the Word says in Phil 2:12 (open it in your bible and put your eyes to it).
My dear friends, you always obeyed what you were taught. Just as you obeyed when I was with you, it is even more important for you to obey now that I am not there. So you must continue to live in a way that gives meaning to your salvation. Do this with fear and respect for God.
Stay hopeful in Joy! Maranatha!
Amen and amen! Maranatha