But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus (1 Thess 4:13-14).

As God’s children, we are not immune from suffering.

We face anxiety, fear, discouragement, sickness, and even death in this life.

But God promises to be with us through all circumstances. He does not set any condition for this promise.

“I will never leave you, nor forsake you,” He promises in the Old Testament and in the New Testament (Heb 13:5; Deut 31:6).

Even if we are faithless, He remains faithful to us (2 Tim 2:13).

His presence is His strongest assurance for us that we have hope. Hope that everything will turn out alright in the end. He does not promise us a smooth journey. But He promises that He will lead us to our final destination where an eternal life of love and joy awaits us.

Therefore, we hope in Him.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord His God (Psalm 146:5).

We will go through pain and suffering, sickness and disease in this life. But we do not fear like those who have no hope.

We know He will carry us through the suffering. If He calls us to it, He will see us through it.

We don’t deny the pain. We don’t deny the need to play our part.

In fact, our suffering gives us an opportunity to demonstrate where our hope truly lies. Our hope rests in a living God.

But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (1 Peter 3:15).

Therefore, we can rejoice and be at peace. Because we have hope in the Lord.