Most merciful God,
Thank you for your Word,
which offers joyous hope for those who die having trusted in Christ for salvation.
Though you don’t give us all of the specifics,
you do give us every reason to rejoice for them even as we grieve our loss:
On the cross, Jesus tells the thief,
“Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).
The apostle Paul says, “To live is Christ; to die is gain”
and “My desire is to depart and be with Christ,
for that is far better” (Philippians 1:21, 23).
And while our loved ones, having died, are instantly delighting in Christ’s presence,
there is an even greater day to come, for them, and for all believers who remain on earth.
On that day when Jesus returns,
the dead will be raised and given their resurrection bodies,
and we who are still alive will be raised,
and we will all live together with God, with one another,
in the new heavens and the new earth (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; Revelation 21:1-4).
In that day, as J. R. R. Tolkien put it, “Everything sad will come untrue.”
May we grieve with hope, knowing our loved ones are enjoying Jesus,
knowing we will one day all be rejoined to rejoice in life forever
on a fully redeemed new earth.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:21,23; Revelation 21:1-4.
Dear friends, if you know someone grieving the death of a loved one, please share this prayer with them. If you are grieving, and would like prayer, I will be happy to pray for you.
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