The Hope of the Resurrection

Thank you https://www.instagram.com/unbounded_life/ for the picture above. I needed to see this today. Yesterday morning was a tough one to get through in our Sunday church service. In the early morning, my father passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. It has been a long and difficult road especially for my sister, who was his primary caregiver. The decision to transfer him last year from their home into a skilled nursing facility was so hard for her to make. It was a constant struggle including a fall that resulted in a broken hip, 2 surgeries, another fall following then recurring infections. Living far from them was not easy either. My 4 siblings live all over the country, making an already difficult situation harder. The one constant throughout all of this was how faithful God is, in proving His promises to me. Even as I sit with tears and write this, Psalm 34:18 has been one to stand on. It has been proven over and over to me just how close to the brokenhearted He truly is. His kindness toward me has been in the form of friends, relatives and church family demonstrating it time and again. From the prayers felt, the babies I held in my arms to find comfort to the children that came to give me hug after hug. From the friend concerned with funeral/travel expenses to the friend that took us out to lunch, to the friend that brought us dinner. The texts and beautiful messages have been extremely comforting. These tears are not from the loss but from experiencing the overwhelming, reckless love of God. A God who would be so concerned with the details of our pain to provide beauty during these times of “ashes” through lovely people. My ultimate lesson about the love of God learned is this: fall into the loving arms of a very good God. He truly does care. Words that bring me great comfort and consolation:

”Jesus replied, ”...But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead...will never die again. They are children of God and children of the resurrection...So He is the God of the living, not the dead, for they are all alive to him.” Luke 20:35-38

“He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus.“ 2 Corinthians 4:14

"Many who have been long dead and buried will wake up, some to eternal life, others to eternal shame. Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever." Daniel 12:2-3

The resurrection of Christ brings hope.