As believers in Jesus Christ we are to be the light unto the world, even in the face of personal tragedy

6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Life, after tragedy, is hard.  We fall into periods of sadness as we think about the loved one who has died. Christmas doesn't carry the same enthusiasm. Joy to the world doesn't carry quite the same message when one is sad and thinking about their friend and the by gone memories with that person that are no more.

Hope is not lost when we think about our loved one singing at the top of their lungs while enjoying endless heavenly feasts with the King of kings and Lord of lords, none other than Jesus Christ.

Hope is not lost when you realize that not only he rescued your love one and brought them to their new heavenly home, but also walks with you in the quagmire of your grief.

Hope is never lost when you place one foot in front of the other and keep on with the same rituals of having quiet times, attending church and praying for one another just as you did before the loss.

Even as we grieve we can be the light to the world. When people ask you how you are doing and your response is " I am sad but I am trusting my Savior Jesus Christ each day" can be a seed that is planted in the heart of the unbeliever.  A  seed that may flourish once grief enters their own lives.

Over 2000 years ago Jesus entered the world a mere baby and began the path of being a light to the world.

A world so disparately in need of peace. A peace that cannot be found simply by meditating or by taking the best that all religions have to offer. A peace that only Jesus can provide to the aching soul of man.

As you proceed on this grief journey Jesus is building a platform so that one day your testimony from grief can be the light that others need to see. 

Listen to the sounds of the hammer putting the lumber of your platform together. Do you hear the power saws cutting up the lumber for your platform?  It is going to be an awesome platform when it is finish. You may not see the end to your pain, but God does and when the end is reached you are going to have an incredible testimony  that will bring people to the Savior. 

God gave hope through a simple baby boy born over 2000 years ago in a feeding trough, the only place that Joseph  could find so that Mary could give birth to the Savior of the world.

Joy to the world carries a whole lot more meaning when we begin to see that Christ gives us a living hope!