https://odb.org/2026/03/10/the-hope-jesus-brings
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV- 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 for ever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
What was the essence of our conversation that day? We discussed our sadness. And we cried. But mostly we spoke of hope. True, authentic hope based on God’s promises. “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,” the apostle Paul explained. “For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and . . . God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). For the believer, beyond the grave is life—life eternal. (Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread 10th March 2026)
The loss of a loved one, especially a child, is indeed sad and often traumatising. This is because a parent’s aspiration is to grow old together with their children and to live the day when they get to see and play with their children’s children. That’s the essence of a family. It is also one of the reasons why my wife and I make it a priority to travel 27 hours door to door to spend time with our elder son in Cardiff, Wales. Since 2022, we have made this trip at least an annual affair and we hope to continue doing so as long as we are mobile. We are still working. Thus, our annual leave from work is limited. Seeing the world can wait until we are properly retired. Meanwhile, we prioritise this annual trip to the UK.
The grief that comes from losing a child. That’s unbearable to many. Parents, particularly mothers, may lose their bearings. The emotional spiral may lead some to deep depression and other mental illnesses. Not just the loss of the companionship but also the dashing of hopes, dreams and aspirations. Suddenly there is a vacuum. An acute one. Even for families with a few children, what more for those with an only son or daughter. I have a friend who always remembers and cherishes the child she miscarried. She has 3 living children but in drawings she will depict 4, not forgetting the one lost in the womb… 😔 ☹️ 🙁 😢
As believers, Paul reminds us that we should not grief like the rest of mankind who have no hope. We have hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. We have eternal life. There will be Eden Recreated, the new heaven and new earth, at the end of time. God will bring with Jesus those who had died in Him. The rapture is our hope of glory when Christ returns for His church, those who are with Him. One day, we and our loved ones will be reunited in Christ. Those who departed earlier in Christ will join us if we are still alive when Christ raptures all who are in Him.
No words can comfort you if you have lost a child. As the Chinese say, the black goes first before the grey. We should not outlive our children. God however is sovereign and we acede to His will. We cling on to the hope that we will see our loved ones again one day. Work out our salvation with fear and trembling so that we may be found worthy of His name! Amen!
Ronnie's Thoughts 