When the Soul Breaks

There are moments when the world feels like it's caving in; moments that seem unreal, like dreams that you continually wake up to. Yet the moments are not visions. They are in fact reality. You close your eyes, wishing the pain would run away. Opening your eyes, you realize that the one you love is truly gone. Your soul breaks and bleeds over what was lost. Reader, what pain are you wrestling with right now? What anguish do you feel?  I've been solemnly reminded of the pain of loss these past few weeks with the home-going of two beloved friends of mine, both mentors and brothers in Christ. Around me, many other believers wrestle with the grief of loss and the reality of death. Pain fills my own soul as the Lord has equipped me to feel others' trials due to my own experience with suffering. We do not grieve as others do. For, as Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4, we have hope because of the resurrection. Yet we grieve, knowing that, at least from our perspective, we will be separated from our loved ones for a little while. However, death is not the end for those who are in Christ Jesus. Not even death can separate us from God's love (Rom. 8:38). Rather, to die is gain, for it means being with Christ for all eternity (Phil. 1:21). Death's victory over the believer, its sting, was taken away when Christ conquered it at His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:55). For He is the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Him, though they die, they still will live (see John 11). Now, you know this, I'm guessing. Since you were a child or possibly since you were reborn into the family of God, you have understood the power found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. How he has disarmed all spiritual forces of darkness. But your soul still breaks. It aches for reunion. I must say, reader, that I sympathize with you. My heart longs to be reunited with my brother, Jon, and my grandmother. Oh, how I long to see them again. But while my heart has ached over loss, it aches even more as I anticipate that final day: the day when I see both of them and all those whom I have lost face-to-face. Even more, I long to see my Savior as I will be filled with joy on that day that he says, "well done, my good and faithful steward." We wait until that day while some of our brothers and sisters are already there. As the weight of sorrow bears down on you and seems to break the bones of your soul, hope in God. Trust in Him who is sovereign and heals the brokenhearted. Look to Him; come to Him who gives rest to the weary soul. We wait for that final rest that will last forever. In that rest, God will be our God and we will be His people. There, we will reign with Him forevermore. Take heart, my friend.