It's Friday

Friday...a day many look forward to and some even thank God for. It marked game night in high school and the end of a work/school week all through the years, but last night I found myself thinking about it differently.

I went to bed with a not so happy thought...death is such a part of life. Three of our friends have lost loved ones this week. We've been to visitations and answered some tough questions from our little people. Another friend battling cancer is scheduled for surgery today and others are wrestling with illnesses and trials of their own.

As the minutes ticked by my thoughts kept running, and friend they were going in the wrong direction. I mean it's OK, and good, to have compassion and empathy for those walking through hard times, but we can't let ourselves become overwhelmed and discouraged. Easier said than done, I know.

Scripture tells us to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15), but we are also commanded to encourage one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." While in the same book chapter 4 verse 18 we read, "Therefore encourage one another with these words."

It's important to consider the task in this verse - encourage, but even more vital to realize the source. What words are we suppose to use? Clearly it's the ones that precede verse 18. They say,

"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. 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. 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 precede those who have fallen asleep. 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. 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."

Prior to drifting to sleep bits and pieces of this passage came to mind and helped redirect my thinking. I was reminded of the hope of heaven and the peace of Christ. I also thought of Friday coming, which took me back to the previous week. We were recognizing Good Friday...a day that truly had no good for Jesus as He was beaten and bruised. And really in the moment it could not have felt good for His mother and disciples.

They were watching their loved one, friend and teacher suffer; I'm guessing their heart hurt just like mine. Tears fell, thoughts raced and feelings overwhelmed. It was a hard day, a discouraging one, one in the moment they probably weren't thanking God for.

Like you and me, they had words to hold onto. Words Jesus had spoke, but they didn't fully understand. Promises they had heard, but didn't even realize they needed. Truths that were taught, but now became necessary.

Friend, if you're experiencing your own "Friday" I pray these words encourage you. I pray you're reminded of the hope we can hold onto and the foundation of Truth we stand on. "Fridays" can be hard, but we must remember even the hardest of days can be good when we see them in light of eternity.

Last night my friend, Mary, said to me, "He (her husband) is not in a better place. He's in the best place and we will see him again."

On that Friday years ago, Jesus' hard walk led Him to His heavenly home and made a way for us as well; may we remember our difficult steps are leading us there too!