“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”
(Isaiah 53:4-5 NKJV)
“Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10 ESV)
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13 NASB)
Two days ago would have been my wife Melody’s birthday. On November 21, 2021, at the age of 59, she moved out of our 2 bedroom apartment in Grand Rapids Michigan into a beautiful mansion designed and built for her by Jesus himself.
Melody is living in the lap of luxury in her heavenly home. If there is such a thing as a birthday party where she is living, I can see her dining on her favorite angel hair spaghetti followed by a big slice of Angel Food cake (probably can’t get devil’s food where she’s at).
In honor of her birthday I have a gift for YOU (I don’t know who this is for, but YOU do).
Right now there is someone out there who is grieving over the “loss” of a loved one. You want to celebrate what you know to be true of the better place in which that person is now living, but all you can do is feel the crushing pain of his or her absence. You are barely able to function through the unbearable weight of grief, sorrow, loss, anger, confusion, and guilt.
How in the world will life ever be the same?
It won’t.
Your life will never be the same. However, as hard as it is to believe, the different life that you are now thrust into without having been given a choice, will rise from the ashes. Your heart and mind feel sick…
…but, by Christ’s stripes you have been healed. Jesus carried your current grief and sorrow to the cross in his body for the joy that was set before him. That joy was not just for him. He did that for YOU and for me. I know first hand the weight of sorrow and the freedom of joy.
In the midst of your blinding pain; right now, when nothing makes sense and you are completely lost; while life does not feel like it is worth living…
…like a child falling into a loving parent’s arms, fall into the arms of your Heavenly Father and let him love away your pain. Don’t wait for it to feel better. Don’t wait for it to make sense. Do it now, even if you’re mad at him. Even if you feel like none of it is real.
By faith, I chose to do just that and I was set free. When I simply (even though part of me didn’t want to), with faith like a child, accepted the truth of what Jesus did for me (he carried my grief and sorrow to the cross and exchanged it for deliverance and joy) I was set free from the pain that I was carrying. What he did for me he will do for you!
In honor of Melody’s birthday…
… in Jesus’ Name I impart to YOU joy that will set you free from the pain of grief and sorrow and fill you with the hope (fervent expectation) of a better tomorrow! Receive healing, restoration, deliverance, and freedom TODAY!
Unwrap and enjoy…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 418: A Very Special Birthday Gift