Season of
Resurrection
By Karen D’Amore
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”
Psalm
116:15 (NIV)
As spring wrestles to awaken from winter’s
stronghold, the season that represents rebirth, regrowth, and resurrection
emerges at a staggeringly slow pace. At a stage in the season where botanical
life normally restores itself, the absence of sunshine harbors frozen
roots…leaving tree limbs barren and flowering bushes colorless. It appears that
the deadly winter has suffocated the life out of spring!
Normally, spring is my favorite season, where
the freshness of new life and new beginnings invigorate my soul. This current
spring feels different than any preceding it. I feel sluggish and weighed down,
a state of perpetual slumber. And as the physical landscape appears lifeless,
I’m surrounded by many who are walking through a season of life-loss and
mourning. My heart aches to see loved ones resonating so deeply and personally
with this lifeless spring.
As the calendar flips to a new month, the
spring season continues to play catch up. Finally, a few scattered days,
bearing abundant sunshine spurs growth and new life. Budding specks of green
randomly burst from awakening branches. Color re-ignites and transforms the
drab landscape. The re-emerging sun/Son sheds new light on the lingering lifeless season…drawing me to glean a new heavenly
perspective.
Reflecting on those friends who are walking
through a season of life-loss, I recognize that each of those loved ones, who
recently passed away, was a “saint.” The biblical
definition for a saint is: Anyone who has proclaimed Jesus Christ as their Lord
and Savior. Today’s Scripture reveals that the death of a saint is precious to
God. From God’s perspective, death opens the door for him to enjoy perfect
eternal fellowship with each of His redeemed children. Though we view death as a sad event and
mourn the lives of those “saints” who have left this earth…we can find comfort
knowing that they’re experiencing newness of life in their heavenly home! We
have the assurance that as saints (believers), “whether we live or die, we
belong to the Lord” (Romans
14:8, NIV). Scripture guarantees for every saint that death is not a
tragedy…but a triumphal entry into Heaven.
God, in His sweet compassion,
understands our pain as we mourn the loss of loved ones. He understands that
emotions can taint our perspective and overshadow His perspective. But be
encouraged! Just as spring will eventually bear evidence of rebirth, regrowth
and resurrection, we can rejoice knowing that those “saints” who have passed
from this earth are living out their final season...the season of heavenly
resurrection!
GOING DEEPER:
1.
How can you draw comfort in seeing things from God’s perspective?
FURTHER READING:
Married
to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at
Craig Berns Salon and Foot Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility. She’s
on the Oakwood Women’s Ministry Special Events planning team.
