It’s been a very busy time for our pastors ministering at memorial services. It’s a season when people we know, and some of them very dear friends, are going through a time of grief. Sharing some of the many bible verses that helped me through my season of mourning when Berea Dannielle, our first daughter, passed away in 2015.
I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
Lamentations 3:20–24 NLTGod’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left.
Lamentations 3:22–24 MSGGod proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It’s a good thing to quietly hope for help from God. It’s a good thing when you’re young to stick it out through the hard times. When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t as questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The “worst” is never the worst. Why? Because the Master won’t even walk out and fail to return.
Lamentations 3:25–31 MSG…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 NIVFor this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.
Hebrews 13:14For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NIVI remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalm 27:13 NIVBut now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.
2 Samuel 12:23 NIV
Death is a make-or-break in the faith of many—either it eventually springs up our faith to a level we haven’t been to before, or sadly to the other end of the road: it affirms their belief that God does not exist. I was a mom who lost her first daughter hours after delivery. I was never able to hug or kiss her. I was able to touch her feet only after she passed away, and her face only after she was so cold from the morgue. As I write this, I am not yet pregnant despite my dare to hope for more children. Let me testify to you—God is real, and He loves us all so much. His plans are always what’s best for us. His timing is perfect. His grace is abundant. He will see you through.
I am the author of the book, When God Could’ve But He Didn’t. I am the happy wife of my happy husband, Pao, both of us happily hoping for at least two more children.
