The title is a verse from the Bible that has comforted me over the years, especially in the realm of death and the unknown “hereafter.” I realize in advance that I can’t convince everyone, even Jesus was amazed at people’s lack of faith, so much so that at one point, He couldn’t do any miracles in that town because of their unbelief. All I can do is submit how I’ve made it through seemingly hopeless situations and maybe give strength and courage to the reader.
My mother died just before her 40th birthday and my 3rd. Death has always had a serious depth of impact on me. I had three ectopic pregnancies (a tube repair was done during the second one and I lost twins the third time). I had my only child c-section, sandwiched between the others, a gallbladder and hysterectomy surgery four months apart, sustained a heart attack and endured back surgery within 2 years of each other, so the following scriptures have made the difference of living and carrying on over the decades.
NOTE: All verses are quoted from the New International Version (NIV) Bible.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
“13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
My heart attack forced me to face my own mortality, and look daily for the Lord’s return. I don’t just want to escape the seven years tribulation that is about to shake this world, but I want to love the One who gave His life for me; and pray that I be counted worthy to escape it. The One who could condemn me, forgave me. Could I offer Him less than my best for Him until He comes?
Psalm 27:13-14
“13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.”
This scripture helped me face the future with resolute determination to overcome during all of life’s obstacles, including, but not limited to abuse, neglect, persecution, ridicule and disaster.
Joshua 1:5
“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Having been left and forsaken in this life in more situations than I can write, there’s great comfort that one thing never changes, the Lord keeps His word. It encourages me, and causes me to have compassion and reach out to others who cross my path.
Psalm 27:10
“Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.”
My father told me as long as I can remember, that you make your bed in life and you will lie in it, that he would not be there after I graduated high school financially, and he wasn’t going to baby-sit, and I knew he meant it, and he never did. Yet, even through all I suffered, there was always One who was not only there for me, but I knew the comfort of the reality of His presence I my darkest hours.
Revelation 3:12
“Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.”
Through countless temptations, hurts, disappointments, abuse, neglect, faithlessness and death, the capstone scripture that has helped me endure is this one. When all else fails, if we have asked Him into our hearts and remain steadfast and faithful, He will carry us home.