1Thessalonians contains the most beautiful passage on the Coming of the Lord. The passage begins with the words, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen,” and ends with the words, “So encourage each other with these words.” [4:13-18 NLT]

Paul wants his young converts to understand the truth about the Lord’s return and for that truth to be used as an encouragement. One truth contained in this passage, however, is often used not as an encouragement, but as a rebuke—that we are to “not grieve like people who have no hope.”  [vs 13 NLT]

Those words have often been used as a reprimand for the outward manifestations of grief, the sadness, tears, and shock expressed by hurting Christians. Paul does not say we are not to grieve. Grief is a normal journey of healing; without it we cannot move from devastation. Tears, sadness, loneliness, depression, denial, and much more are all part of grief.

What Paul does say is that believers are not to grieve like people WHO HAVE NO HOPE. Believers are to grieve WITH HOPE. We may not fully understand all that happens after death or have a complete knowledge of the other side of the veil, but we have hope, and our hope is not just wishful thinking that somewhere out in the great beyond is a “better place.” Our hope has an anchor.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews says that we have this hope in the certainty of God’s promises as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. That hope reaches behind the curtain where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf and become our High Priest.  [Hebrews 6:18-20]

We grieve as those whose hope is set secure in Jesus, our High Priest. God’s promises are certain. And when we grieve, we grieve with SURE HOPE.