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Encouraging One Another by the Word in Times of Grief By Pastor Charlie Handren

By Anonymous
     In times of grief we sometimes offer one another empty platitudes, mainly because we don’t know what else to say or do. But sometimes, for fear of making this mistake, we remain silent and fail to encourage one another with godly wisdom, even though this is what the Scripture calls us to do.
     Consider the words of Paul where he writes, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
     Beloved, Paul wants us to be informed about the truth so that we will grieve well before the Lord, that is, so that we might grieve in light of the undying hope we have in Jesus. Neither offering one another the wisdom of the world nor remaining silent will help us in the long run. But encouraging one another by the words and wisdom of God will be of tremendous help, for it anchors us in the person of God, the truth and worldview of God, and the hope of God in our Lord Jesus Christ.
     This is why Paul ends his exhortation with the words, “Therefore encourage one another with these words” (4:18). First, Paul is exhorting us to act and speak to one another rather than to remain silent. It has been said that idleness is the devil’s playground, and in times of grief, silence is his playground, too. So let us not build a playground for the flesh, the world, and the devil by remaining silent, rather, let us resolve to encourage one another in times of grief.
     Second, Paul is exhorting us to encourage one another by the words and wisdom of God rather than the empty platitudes of the flesh, the world, and the devil. Jesus weeps when his people grieve but he also speaks, and he primarily speaks through his Word. So in times of grief, let us redouble our efforts to saturate our minds with his Word and then encourage one another by his Word. As we seek him, he will speak to us, and as he speaks to us, let us boldly and compassionately speak to one another. If we will hear and heed Paul’s loving exhortation to “encourage one another with these words,” we will not only get through but grow through every season of grief. 

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