1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:14,319 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We are so glad to 3 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 2: have you listening with us here today. Today's topic is 4 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:21,919 Speaker 2: grieving at Easter. We will return after a brief message 5 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:38,599 Speaker 2: from our sponsor for those grieving this Easter. Written by 6 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 2: Vivian Bricker, read by Rochelle ALBERTI Bible reading. So with you. 7 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 2: Now is your time of grief. But I will see 8 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 2: you again, and you will rejoice, and no one will 9 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 2: take away your joy. John sixteen twenty two. Not everyone 10 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 2: feels joy when Easter rolls around. Many of us experience 11 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 2: immense grief, pain, and sorrow. Because of the annual tradition 12 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 2: of believing flowers on the graves of our loved ones 13 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 2: on Good Friday, it can be difficult to return to 14 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 2: a heart of celebration. Every year since my mom passed away, 15 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 2: my family and I have taken flowers to her grave. 16 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 2: I cannot fully explain what this experience feels like, but 17 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 2: over time it can leave you feeling empty inside. It 18 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 2: doesn't feel right knowing that your mother is buried beneath 19 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 2: the ground. This is a pain I wish no one 20 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 2: had to experience, yet most of us will face it 21 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 2: at some point. In our lives. My mom passed away 22 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 2: when I was a teenager, but I believe the pain 23 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 2: of losing a loved one is intense no matter your age. 24 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 2: Even if your parents pass away when you are much older, 25 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 2: it is still painful to say goodbye. That is because 26 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 2: death is not natural. It was never part of God's 27 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 2: original desire for humanity. Today. He created us to live forever. However, 28 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 2: the fall of humankind changed everything Genesis three. Since that moment, 29 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 2: we have had to live in a world marked by sin, pain, suffering, illness, 30 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 2: and death. While I know my mom is in heaven 31 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 2: with God, I still miss her deeply and the pain 32 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 2: can be overwhelming at times. Just because we know our 33 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 2: loved ones are in a better place does not mean 34 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 2: our grief disappears here on earth. We still feel their absence. 35 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:35,920 Speaker 2: There will never be another Easter where my mom is 36 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 2: physically with me. She didn't see me graduate from college, 37 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 2: she never saw me drive my first car, and she 38 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 2: will not see the rest of my life unfold. Perhaps 39 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 2: you are experiencing your first Easter without someone new love 40 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 2: and re feels especially heavy on your heart, intersecting faith 41 00:02:55,200 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 2: in life. Jesus tells us so with you. Now is 42 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 2: your time of grief, but I will see you again, 43 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 2: and you will rejoice, and no one will take away 44 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 2: your joy. John sixteen twenty two. Even though Easter can 45 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 2: remind us of our pain, it also reminds us of 46 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 2: the beautiful salvation we have through Jesus. Death entered the world, 47 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 2: but Jesus has overcome it. Firse Corinthians fifteen fifty five 48 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 2: through fifty eight. Praise the Lord. We do not have 49 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 2: to live without the hope of seeing our loved ones 50 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 2: ever again. We will see them again, and no one 51 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 2: will ever take away our joy. As Jesus said, now 52 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 2: may be our time of grief in the present season, 53 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 2: we must allow grief to exist within us. This is 54 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 2: something I have had to learn. I no longer see 55 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 2: grief as an enemy. Instead, it reminds me of how 56 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 2: deeply I love my mom. I will not see her 57 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 2: again in this life, but I will see her again 58 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 2: in heaven. When we reflect on the truth, the weight 59 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 2: of sorrow begins to live. Because we have eternity to 60 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 2: look forward to this Easter. Remember Jesus's amazing grace, and 61 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 2: now he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness. 62 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 2: And brought us into his kingdom Colossians one thirteenth through fourteen. 63 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 2: On Easter, we can breathe, but we can also worship God. 64 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 2: Even through tears. We can worship our powerful and loving savior. 65 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 2: Jesus does not demand that we always appear happy or 66 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 2: put together. Instead, he welcomes our honest hearts and invites 67 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 2: us to bring our true feelings before him. The love 68 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:45,799 Speaker 2: of the Lord surpasses any lovely experience on this earth. 69 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 2: That is why he gave his life for our sins. 70 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 2: As we reflect on this truth, we can praise him 71 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:57,160 Speaker 2: for what he has done. God will restore all things 72 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 2: in his perfect timing on that day. No one will 73 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 2: ever take away our joy. Are you grieving this Easter? 74 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,559 Speaker 2: How might you bring those feelings honestly before the Lord. 75 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 2: Grief can be a reflection of the love we have 76 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 2: for those we've lost. Does thinking about grief this way 77 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 2: change how you see it? Why? Or why not? Further 78 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 2: reading Revelation one eighteen, Romans six twenty three, Psalm fifty 79 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 2: six eight. 80 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 1: The Crosswalk Devotional is a production of Life Audio and 81 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 1: Salem Media. If you liked what you heard today, please 82 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: take a second to rate and Review this podcast in 83 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: your favorite podcast app so that more listeners like you 84 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:53,919 Speaker 1: can find the show. For more faith filled, inspirational podcasts, 85 00:05:54,600 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 1: visit us at lifeaudio dot com.