Mourning with hope (Part 2)

LAST week, I introduced my friend, Gracious Chifamuna. She is a dear friend who tragically lost her husband at a young age. Mindful, due to COVID-19, many are losing loved ones, I have invited her to do a series on what God has taught her as her loss has left her a single mother of four in a very hard economic time. Her words are below:

Last week, I mentioned that death is not final, death is not the end! Death is transition to our real home, a place where we belong. However, as our loved ones transition to eternity, it brings immense pain in our hearts. We mourn, we ache, and experience all kinds of emotions. At the same time Jesus knew that death would bring so much trouble, agony, and deep pain in our hearts hence he made provisions for mourning. Today let us look at how Jesus responded to facing death and how He prepared His disciples. I will then share a few lessons.

In John Chapter 12, we see Jesus talking to his disciples about His oncoming death. For Jesus, it was not just death, it was shameful and painful. As Jesus prepares his disciples, we read that his soul was troubled. No doubt, reality of death brings immense sorrow in a person’s heart. However, there is nothing wrong in admitting pain. Admitting and acknowledging pain does not mean that one has lost faith in God or that one is weak.

If Jesus admitted his pain and was vulnerable to His own disciples, what more of us? How we express our pain might differ, no need to exaggerate or suppress. Jesus knows and sees our hearts!

Jesus did not just admit his pain, He then quickly turned back to His Father and said, “Father Glorify your name.” That is the challenge we also have as believers, to acknowledge our pain and quickly turn back to God and say, “God be glorified in my pain!”

Though Jesus was troubled in His heart by the reality of the cross, He knew for sure that God had put all things under His power (John 13:3.) It was God’s idea. It was not the devil! He was returning to God, sadly He had to die first. Heaven was home. Heaven is our home.

Let us take a quick look at how Jesus prepared His disciples. In John 14, twice, he said, “do not let your hearts be troubled”.

The second time Jesus added, “do not be afraid.” Jesus knew for sure that his home-going was going to cause fear and pain in his own disciples’ hearts, so he cared enough to share some comforting words. Jesus is still saying those words to us.

He went on and said, “... and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me…” John 14 vs 3.

Ashley Thaba is a life-coach, team-building facilitator and motivational speaker. She is also the author of Conquering the Giants and Dive In.