Don’t Grieve as Though You Have No Hope - The Crosswalk Devotional - November 30
Don’t Grieve as Though You Have No Hope
By Michelle Lazurek
Bible Reading
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest of humanity, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15
Arriving at my monthly meeting with other fellow authors, I expected it to be a typical day. I assumed we would update each other on what we've been doing, ask questions regarding the writing world, and then pray for each other. But when we got to prayer time, we received shocking news. Two of the ladies in my cohort told us that they had cancer. Both said to us that they had aggressive forms of cancer and needed to have treatment right away. Both would have to have radiation and chemotherapy to shrink the tumor that was discovered.
My first thought was one of surprise and despair. Because so many loved ones have passed away from cancer, I assumed the worst. We, as a group, also knew that this would mean we would see these ladies less frequently as chemotherapy and radiation would tax their bodies physically, mentally, and spiritually, and they often would have to miss being part of the meeting because of physical side effects. I sent them cards and prayed fervently for their healing, but in the back of my mind, I assumed God wouldn't heal them.
Surprisingly, these women didn't take that same perspective. Both women took to social media, praising God for all he was doing amid their treatment. Even though debilitating pain and nausea gripped their bodies throughout most of the week, both still carried on their mission of writing and proclaiming the gospel through the written and spoken word. One lady even does weekly videos highlighting how God has used her during her cancer journey.
These ladies, among others I know, inspire me to be a better person and Christian. They see hope amid a difficult situation and use every day, with whatever time they've been given, to proclaim the gospel boldly. Whether they are healed entirely, or God takes them is not for me to grant. But I can say if their time on earth is ending, they are leaving a legacy of unshakable faith amid the most challenging circumstances.
The above verse teaches us as Christians that our lives look very different than those of the world. Even amid trials and difficult circumstances, we are not to grieve as the world grieves, full of despair and hopelessness. Instead, we must use our time to tell others about Jesus. With every hour –or minute—God has granted us, whether in good or poor health, we can use it for his glory.
These ladies teach me how to use God's time to the best of my abilities. Even when they ask for prayer because the pain is so debilitating it's challenging to get out of bed, they muster the courage to get dressed, go to speaking engagements, and even write books so that God's mercy and glory can be proclaimed for their readers.
Do you have someone in your life who is suffering from a complex illness? Perhaps you are dealing with difficult circumstances you feel God won't repair. Do you grieve as someone with no hope, or do you place your hope in God, who can change any situation at any time?
Let's take cues from my fellow author friends. They use every breath they breathe to be the tangible examples of Jesus here on earth. Let's use our time on earth in the same way. I know I will.
Father, let us be people who use every breath we breathe to proclaim your glory. Whether in challenging circumstances or easy times of contentment or despair, let us be people who use every moment of our lives to tell others about you. Amen.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
In what ways may God be using your difficult circumstances to proclaim his glory? What's one step you can take today to do that?
Further Reading:
Psalm 34:18
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Fizkes
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