Everlasting Consolation

In the Fall, I cannot help but feel a little giddy over the changing leaves, a cappuccino (sorry Pumpkin Spiced Latte fans), sweater weather and wearing boots again. It is a joy to find pleasure in the little things and celebrate the changing of the seasons.

Change can be scary, and it can be beautiful. God gave us beautiful Fall foliage in beautiful tones of gold and orange. It is so energizing to see how beautiful it can be let go of the old, in preparation of something new.

Why is it scary to let go of the old? I think change can be scary, because we have to let go of the way we have done things. We have to let go of our routine. We have to trust in the unknown. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the unknown as something that requires discovery. That sounds exciting. I have to admit that I was going to define the unknown as something we don’t know and cannot see.

Seeing the unknown as something that requires discovery sounds so much better. That is exactly how we should view changes in our lives. Instead of being afraid of what lies ahead, we should trust in God and wait in joyful anticipation for what is going to happen next.

Even in death, there is new life. We mourn those that are no longer with us on earth. We feel sadness and grief. We miss them in our lives. That is normal. We should also rejoice for them. If they accepted Jesus Christ in their hearts as their Lord and Savior, they are in a better place. They are in a heavenly place, with God our father. They are singing with the angels. They are filled with the goodness of God. There is no more pain and suffering. There is only joy.

God loves us. God will comfort us. God will give us grace and hope. God will comfort our hearts. God will establish every good word and work within us.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
–2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NKJV)

We don’t always want change. Sometimes, we fight it. We should trust that God has a beautiful path ahead for us, if we trust in him. God will give us everlasting consolation.