Day 10 — When Someone Dies

“Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.”

— 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 (BSB)

This might be a hard day to read. If someone you love has died, whether it was a grandparent, a parent, a friend or someone else, you might want to read it with a grown-up who loves you.

When someone we love dies, it hurts more than almost anything. We miss them. We wish we could talk to them, hug them or hear their voice one more time. Sometimes we feel sad. Sometimes angry. Sometimes numb, or confused, or even guilty. All of those feelings are normal. Feeling them doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. This deep sadness is called grief.

The Christians in a town called Thessalonica were grieving too. Some people in their church had died, and they were confused and heartbroken. So Paul wrote to them.

Notice what Paul does not say. He doesn’t say, “Don’t be sad.” He says, “we do not want you to grieve like the rest, who are without hope.”

Christians still grieve. We still cry. But we grieve with hope. What’s the hope? “Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.”

Paul calls death “sleep” for people who trust Jesus. When you go to sleep, you wake up again. For those who belong to Jesus, death isn’t the end. Because Jesus rose from the dead, He will raise them too. And one day, everyone who belongs to Jesus will be together with Him, and with each other, forever. A few verses later Paul writes, “And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:17–18).

Maybe you’re not sure whether the person who died knew Jesus. That’s a hard question. You can trust God with them. He is always good, always fair and full of love, and He knew them better than anyone.

Grief doesn’t go away in a day. It might come in waves for a long time. That’s okay. On the hard days, remember: Jesus cried at His friend’s tomb. He understands. And He is close to you.

Think about it: What does it mean to grieve “with hope”? How is that different from grieving without hope?

Try this: If someone you love has died, talk to a grown-up about them today. Share a favorite memory. If you know someone else who is grieving, send them a note or a drawing to let them know you care.

Dear God, death is so hard, and it hurts to miss people we love. Thank You that Jesus died and rose again, and that death is not the end for those who belong to Him. Please comfort everyone who is grieving, including me. Help me grieve with hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.