As we quickly approach Christmas and celebrate the birth of Jesus one would imagine that all believers would be filled with hope, overwhelmed with peace and bursting with joy. Sadly, that is not the case. Actually, many believers are filled with fear, overwhelmed by sadness and bursting with tears. If this describes you, or someone you love, take note, Hope is available in copious amounts from Heaven. However, because of the fallen world we live in, it won’t just fall on you out of the clear blue sky. Rather, you need to seek it, ask for it and it will be given to you.

There are many people approaching this Christmas season in full hopelessness because of the loss of a loved one through 2018. Loss is a lonely word. It is sad word. One day you have someone, then the next day you don’t have them. It is hard to comprehend loss. We can’t make sense of it and all the human logic we apply fails us.

I cannot tell you why you experienced loss. I will not say, “Everything happens for a reason.” But, what I can tell you is that God has got you. I will remind you that God has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. (Heb 13:5) So, if you are feeling otherwise, check your spirit, check your focus and inspect your heart for God’s truth.

I have walked the path of losing loved ones – both suddenly and expected. It is an understatement to say it is “hard” to lose a loved one, However, in the midst of loss, I clung to Jesus for comfort and hope. Does that mean I wasn’t sad? Nope. Does it mean I didn’t cry? Nope. I had my times of sadness and times of tears but gradually they were replaced with joy unspeakable as I realized where my loved ones, who were believers in Christ, were since they were no longer with me.

I realized my loved ones were now in Heaven. They were now with Jesus, seeing Him face to face. Can you even imagine what that will be like?!?! Imagining the full joy and love they were experiencing moved me from sadness to rejoicing. They were no longer in any pain or subject to any suffering of this world. Rather, they were experiencing the love, peace, joy and comfort of God first hand. (Not to mention hearing angels worship in person).

I noticed one day that I actually was not so much grieving anymore, but that I was feeling a bit of envy for their newly elevated position. I found myself longing to be in Heaven and reminded that this world is not my home. Sure, I missed my loved ones and tears still fell from time to time but I was not hopeless, I did not grieve like those who have no hope, as Paul said in Thessalonians:

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (TPT)
Beloved brothers and sisters, we want you to be quite certain about the truth concerning those who have passed away, so that you won’t be overwhelmed with grief like many others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who died while believing in him.

I believe in Jesus’s death and Resurrection so I know that I will see my loved ones again. This FACT replaced the sadness I felt. The only way this was possible was through the power of Holy Spirit. As I grieved I prayed for comfort and was constantly reminded of my loved one’s new Heavenly zip code. As I looked to God as my source of comfort and hope, He was always faithful to deliver me.

So, if you have experienced loss in 2018, my heart is broken for you and I am truly sorry for your loss. I fully encourage you to take your loss and Go to God. Don’t look at the world and how it tells you to behave in loss. Breathe deep and turn your eyes to Jesus and allow Him to comfort you in this loss. He will not only comfort you, He will adjust your focus to Him and restore your hope. My prayer for you is straight from the Word of Truth:

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As you look to the God of Hope, may your heart be comforted and may you recall sweet memories with your loved one. May each day be filled with more joy and may the celebration of the birth of Christ fill you to overfull with hope. Christ’s birth was so He could live, die and rise to overcome evil and death and that, above all else, should give you hope.

Blessings and Love,

Pamela