Celebrating a Life in Christ: Joy in a Time of Sorrow
In our journey with Christ, the passing of a loved one is not only a moment of grief but also an opportunity to celebrate their life in Christ. Jesus Himself is the prime example of how even the greatest tragedy can become the greatest sign of hope for us, in His death and resurrection. Yet, how can we keep this hope in mind during times of sorrow? How can we honor a loved one’s memory in a way that reflects the hope and joy that we share in Jesus?
Remembering the Story: Each life is a tapestry of stories that reflect God’s love, and when a loss is recent, those memories are weighed down with grief. As time goes on, even the happiest memories can be touched with a bittersweet reminder that a loved one is not present. With this, it is important to remember: approaching these memories with Christ does not mean that sorrow won't be present. The presence of grief is not a sign that Jesus isn’t close to you!
A sound example of this is the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (John 11:1-44). Even as Martha expresses her grief over the loss of her brother to Jesus, she admits her faith in Him when she says that her brother would have lived if He had been there, and that even now, God will accomplish whatever He asks (John 11:21). Seeing her sorrow and that of those around Him, Jesus wept (John 11:35), even as He is aware of the miracle He is about to perform (John 11:41-42). What can this tell us?
First, Christ suffers with us, and we should remember to offer our suffering up to Him in times of grief. For anyone who is unsure of what “offering it up” really means, this advice can be, at best, annoying; as if someone’s saying “just let it go.” This is not the case!
To offer our suffering to Christ is to respond to His command to take up our crosses and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). Giving our grief as an offering to Him does a few important things. It begins by calling upon us to respond to our faith in acknowledging and calling upon His presence in our situation. God is present to you in good times and bad: don’t hesitate to call on Him like David did in the Psalms! It also acknowledges our hope in Him, in that we know we are carrying our cross with Jesus towards a destination: the Cross which is our salvation! For we know that those who die with Christ do not sleep forever, but are raised up to new life with Him (Romans 6:5).
Mary, Martha, and all those present were able to realize the power of God’s love in raising Lazarus from the dead, and although this happened soon for them (John 11:17), we share in that same hope. Our loved one’s story is not over, and while we should always treasure our memories with them, we should also remember to look toward the hope of a new life in Christ, and His promise that we will live again to make new memories with them.
With this said, what does this mean for us in the present? How can we keep this in mind as we honor our loved one’s memory?
Creating a Memorial Space: Setting up a dedicated space in your home can serve as a physical reminder of your loved one's presence in Christ. It should not only contain pictures and mementos from your favorite past memories with them, but also contain items that help you look toward the hope of seeing them again.
While this should include symbols of our faith in Christ, be sure to choose those symbols that have particular meaning to you. For example, the cross your loved one used to wear, or perhaps the Bible you read together. These types of objects can not only be a visual reminder of hope, but also help to form a devotional area, where you offer your suffering to Jesus and pray with Him, bearing in mind the presence of your loved one in Christ’s heart.
Music and Hymns that Uplift the Spirit: Music has the power to soothe the soul and connect us with our loved ones memory. It can also connect us more deeply to the presence of Christ in our grief. Have you ever sung a prayer to God? Consider the prayerful songs of the Israelites leaving Egypt, or the uplifting songs of David’s hope in the Psalms. You can sing whatever comes to your heart, or even sing the Holy Scripture out loud!
Using Art to Express Love and Remembrance: Art can also be a profound way to express what words cannot. Sometimes words are hard to speak, even if we feel them in our mind. Sometimes, the best way to offer up our hope in Christ for ourselves and our loved ones is to look to Him with a wounded but trusting heart. If you have ever seen a picture of Jesus that really touched your heart and gave you a feeling of His presence, then you may know what this feels like. If that’s something you’ve not experienced, consider looking prayerfully for an artwork that really speaks to you, where the details stir this hope within your heart. We invite you to explore our artwork at Heavenly Inspirations - Eternal Memory.
Engaging in the Community: When we honor a loved one’s life in Christ, we should also remember that those with Him are a member of Christ’s body the Church. His body is a community of believers! When struggling with grief, one of the hardest things to do is to get out and participate with our Christian family, and yet, it can also be one of the most important ways to carry our cross with Him. If we are all called to carry our cross and follow Him, it is not something we should try to do in isolation. We have a family in Jesus who is there for us and who can motivate us, sometimes in ways we didn’t even expect! If you are currently struggling with your faith community or even looking for one, ask God to help you find one where He knows you will receive the love and support you need!
Celebrating a life in Christ means finding joy in memories, solace in faith, and hope in the promise of reunion. As we explore these ways of honoring our loved ones, we can embrace the comfort and strength found in our faith.