Be Comforted

Be Comforted 
Are you grieving today? Grief is something we all know too well. Each of us has faced the painful experience of saying goodbye to a loved one. You may have shed tears at the funeral of a parent, your spouse or endured the unimaginable heartache of burying a child. That journey through the valley of the shadow of death could have happened last week or years ago, but the ache often lingers. Unfortunately, many don’t know how to support those grieving. Well-meaning individuals often try to minimize pain with trite phrases or empty words. Jesus reminds us denying our pain provides little comfort.
Friends, In God’s Kingdom, mourning reminds us of the comfort we can receive in times of need. When faced with the reality of death, "Jesus wept" (John 11). He mourned, and He grieves with us in our losses—whether it’s the loss of a spouse, child, or another loved one. Jesus stands beside us in our pain and sheds His tears with us. He came not only to weep with us but to redeem us. Our Savior faced death, submitted to it, and conquered it. Jesus' victory over death and the grave gives us hope; He is our living hope! We are assured that one day, we will inhabit a world free of grief, mourning, and death. Knowing Jesus has triumphed over death provides us comfort in our grief. Thanks be to God!
Onward and Upward+
Fr. Greg

​Lord, amid the pain of our recent tragedies, grant us strength to endure each day, and remind us daily that Your power is made perfect in our weakness. Help us to lean on You and to trust in Your grace to sustain us each new day. Help us believe in Your power to bring restoration and beauty amid our fears and tears. 
Amen +

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