Good morning, and a most blessed Thursday to you.

I was visiting my mom in North Carolina, and on my flight home, it turned out to be what’s known as an honor flight. At first, I didn’t quite understand what was happening. Then I looked up at my gate and saw a line of military personnel—some in fatigues, others in their dress uniforms.

An announcement was made that a ceremony would soon take place. As it began, they explained that this was an honor flight home for a fallen paratrooper. His casket was being escorted back to Texas to be reunited with his family for burial. Watching the ceremony, seeing his brothers-in-arms place their hands on his casket and then board the plane, was deeply moving. Their grief was raw and visible.

When we landed in Texas and began to disembark, we could see the soldier’s family waiting on the tarmac to receive the casket of their son. It was heart-wrenching to witness their pain—and striking to see how young these soldiers were who mourned the loss of their comrade.

I don’t know what happened, how he died, or even his name. But it reminded me how precious every day truly is. We don’t know when the end of our days on this side of heaven will come.

Psalm 139 tells us, “In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.”
You see, our days are held by God. Our days are numbered by God. Not one of them is a surprise to Him.

God treasures each and every one of His creations. He treasures us so dearly that He sent His own Son, Jesus Christ—the second Person of the Trinity—to enter into creation and die a most horrendous death at a young age, in order to save and reconcile the whole world to Himself.

By God’s grace, you and I have heard the good news. We have heard that Jesus died for us, and because we have heard and believed, we have been counted as children of God. He knew you were His child. He loved you before you were even born.

What a blessing it is to know that while we don’t know what tomorrow holds, God does. And not only does He know what we will face, but He faces it with us. Nothing surprises Him, and we can rest knowing that we are in His care.

I hope and pray that those who suffer loss—especially of the young—know the Lord, and know the comfort, grace, and peace that only He can provide.

If you know someone who is hurting today, or see someone hurting tomorrow, take a moment. Pray for them. Maybe even pray with them. And make sure they hear the good news: that Jesus loves them, that He died for them, and that they too can live forever in His glorious presence.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Lord, we thank You for life and for each day we are given on this side of heaven. We thank You that all of our days are already secured by Your blood and Your Son for our good and for our salvation.

Lord, we lift before You those who are mourning, grieving, hurting, or struggling. Bring them comfort through Your Word. And if we are the ones through whom You choose to speak that comfort, Lord, use us.

For those we may never meet, we ask that someone would share the good news—that all may come to know and believe that You are indeed the God of mercy, the God of love, the God of creation, the God of redemption, and the God of eternity.

We lift this prayer to You in the blessed, holy, saving name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Have a wonderful rest of your week, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we worship our good Lord together.

Pastor Malinak