¹³ And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

¹⁵ We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. ¹⁷ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ So encourage each other with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Dear God, I’m not one to sit here and pine for heaven or the afterlife, but that is probably because I am a comfortable American Christian who doesn’t really understand suffering. I don’t appreciate wanting this life to be short so I can get on with your perfect afterlife.

I was thinking this morning about estranged parent/child relationships. I’ve known people who had prents die when they were estranged from each other. I’ve known people who have lost children to suicide and, at least to some extent, blamed themselves. I think the good news for all of these people is that, if there is eternity with you to be anticipated by all parties, these few years on earth will be but a blip on their existence. I think part of the appeal of heaven isn’t the paradise it will be, but the idea that it will render the pain experienced in this life practically non-existent.

Father, help me to be a source of comfort for others who suffer by offering them you and your comfort. And help me to rest in the comfort of the knowledge that the pain I experience is only temporary. And I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to at least consider the people in the world who DO know what suffering means. They are attacked, threatened, and killed for their faith in you. They are denied an opportunity to support themselves. They helplessly watch their families and friends be tortured. They have governments or mobs attacking them. Oh, Father, please help. Raise up your people or raise up someone who will come to their aid. If there is someone I should support in that, please show me and let me know. And as I get ready to teach this morning about Manoah and his wife, give me your words to say. Speak through me.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen