1. 1 Thessaloniciens 4:13–14 (NEG79)
  2. Applications

Grief is natural but not hopeless

1 Thessaloniciens 4:13–14 (NEG79)

13 Nous ne voulons pas, frères, que vous soyez dans l'ignorance au sujet de ceux qui sont décédés, afin que vous ne vous affligiez pas comme les autres qui n'ont point d'espérance.

Understanding the Bible’s teaching does not spare us from grief. Notice that Paul does not rebuke them for grieving. He says, I do not want you to grieve without hope. I want you to have hope. But the grieving is there. Death remains the fearful enemy that has invaded the garden of the Lord. Being informed about our hope keeps us from grieving in ignorance, but it does not relieve the suffering of grief over those who have departed. I take such comfort from our Lord Jesus in John 11:1–57. … I am the resurrection and the life. His friend Lazarus had died. He said, Lazarus is asleep. And Jesus—dare I say—had the answers. And he knew, maybe in five minutes, he was going to resurrect Lazarus. But when he was there, he stood at the tomb and he wept. It is appropriate for us to weep—but not without hope.1

Richard D. Phillips