This past summer, I learned a lot about physical suffering. I was in the end stages of a very difficult pregnancy, and at the same time, a beloved member of my family was dying of a terrible type of cancer. I knew there would be joy at the end of my suffering, and I knew there would be grief at the end of his, at least for those of us left on earth. But we shared, for very different reasons, the feeling of our breaking bodies. Every part of my body groaned with the weight of life; every aspect of his body sighed with the slow creep of death. And yet, he was a believer—which means that as we watched his journey toward death, he was also journeying toward life everlasting.
When he crossed to the other side, he experienced complete restoration and joy in the presence of his Savior, Jesus. And that restoration, while for now it is spiritual, will one day be physical. Paul explains that when believers die they are “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2Corinthians 5:8), but at the final resurrection, we will receive new bodies fit for eternity with Christ in the new heavens and new earth (1Corinthians 15:53–55). Our readings for today remind us of this promise.
This is, I think, the thing that tethers me to Jesus in my moments of deepest grief and when I wrestle with my many doubts—that there is an answer to death. Suffering is temporary, not permanent. It is not meaningless. Death is wrong; it isn’t supposed to be this way, and there’s a plan already in motion to redeem it. We believe, as people of hope, that the beauty of the earth, the feelings of love and joy, and the aching for healing we experience are signposts of God’s promise to restore all things.
When I was in seminary, a professor was speaking to the class on a day when a child in the seminary community had died. People in that room were in unspeakable pain. And pastorally, my professor said, “every death is a mercy.” I’ll carry that phrase with me forever because it captures the hope—the living hope—that only followers of Jesus have. Death means the end of bodily suffering but not of our hope. It is a mercy to shed our broken bodies and be joined with the Lord. And it is okay to hope for that. To even long for it, as Job did.
Even after my skin has been destroyed,
yet I will see God in my flesh.
I will see him myself;
my eyes will look at him, and not as a stranger.
My heart longs within me.
—Job 19:26–27
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53 thoughts on "The Nature of the Resurrection Body"
May we run the race well
I hope I remember this message when life gets difficult. I draw back to 2 Corinthians Ch4v16. Therefore we do not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
I clung to this during my 3rd pregnancy when physically my body felt like it was wasting away. It also translates to my 97 year old Gran who’s body is wasting away as her spirit get closer to her home with the heavenly father.
I ask in Jesus name that this message and verse stays in my mind!
I have family right now at level 5 kidney failure. They are on their last time. They are scared. They are a believer but afraid none the less. I pray I will be a comfort to them. I pray I remember when my time comes – this is just the beginning!
This was really well said. Thank you.
what an amazing reflection.
Hi Lauren, you should check out the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program, they provide free mental health care treatment for veterans
Hi Lauren, have you heard of the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program? They provide free, confidential mental health care for veterans. It’s a two week program and includes therapy, wellness sessions, and family services as well. They specialize in therapy for military members and veterans are on staff for suppport. check them out: emoryhealthcare.org/veterans
Our prayers are with you and your husband… that he may find help and peace and that you will have strength and peace as you love him through this difficult time
Lauren GW – praying for your husband
♥️
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. – Philippians 3:20-21
Hi Tami I was trying to reply to you but somehow I messed that up. Please read a little further. Verse 50 and on explains more
Tami I tried to reply to you and totally messed up my post this am. It was my first time. “What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.”
1 Corinthians 15:50 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.15.50.NLT
Oops I wrote the wrong version.
Good morning. I would suggest reading the next few verses. In the English Standard Version verse 50 says.
I like the #2 option.
Hi Tami C,
Maybe try Eugene Peterson’s The Message. The Lord loves that you are striving to learn more about Him.
Hang in there sister!
My husband has been suffering for 3 years with military PTSD and every day has the feeling of wanting to escape his broken body and be with the Lord. Please pray for healing and that the Lord would show him why he is still here.
I found the Corinthians scriptures to be hard to understand – maybe I need to read it in a different version? I read it over a few times but am still just left with questions. Can anyone pls point me to a good commentary? Thx!
There is a beautiful song by Casting Crowns, called “The Only Scars in Heaven”. Dear sisters if you lost a love one who was sick for a long time, it’s a beautiful song with a loving message.
Hello dear she’s,
Today’s scriptures targeted one of my major fears: Die to be made alive . If we don’t die /resist dying, we are not yet made alive (You fool, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies- 1 Corinthians 15:36). Dying involves pain, being a living sacrifice involves pain… even if it’s just metaphorical, to various extent that God might allow us to experience. A season of rest by green pastures and still waters can restore a wounded soul. Sometimes fear comes to stay, but it must go for fear is NEVER from God. He doesn’t intend the spirit of fear to dwell in His beloved children, but the spirit of power, love and a sound mind. The children of the Lion of Judah are the lion cubs, and lions are courageous and bold, so are their cubs. The devil surely uses fear to cripple and paralyze us. The flesh and the spirit is each other’s enmity, always wrestling. I hear God whisper,” If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it” (Matthew 10:39 NLT). May the Lord give us the boldness to overcome fear, knowing we have the Spirit of Life within us, to enable us to do all things He sends us to do.
@AMY: I am up north in Canada, though I always long for the warmer climate of Texas :) 7 month long of winter is no longer something I can easily tolerate. I am glad that your daughter had an amazing experience with Mrs. McDonald too, what a coincidence of name eh?
@ALEXANDRA: praying for your dad’s surgery, and your family.
@TRACI, DOROTHY: thinking of you, sending you love.
Praise be to God that even though we are sown in weakness, we are raised in power, sown in dishonour, but raised in glory (1 Corinthians 15:43). Be blessed dear sisters.
A heavenly body sounds amazing! One that won’t get sick, get wrinkles and die; a permanent home for my spirit. I am looking forward to that❤️
I feel like a revival in my soul has taken place while reading our Scriptures for today. I found myself lifted up and happy while reading. I can feel The Holy Spirit within me. All I can say is, Come Lord Jesus, Come! HALLELUJAH!
HEIDI – I’m in for #2 (or whatever ends up as majority first choice) or Kingdom of God depending on availability. You may have already counted my choice – originally posted for KELLY (NEO) earlier. Y’all look so much alike that I confused myself :)
Sisters, The wisdom and testimonies of today and yesterday have been especially touching and impactful – I’ve read through them multiple times. This time of year begins a season for me of remembering many loved ones who are not with me here. The promise of heaven and knowing they are with Jesus is a comfort beyond what words can express.
Most of you know that my son, Tanner, passed away a year and a half ago. We were wildly close. Even look alike. My heart literally hurt for 3 days. I kept rubbing my chest as if it would alleviate the physical pain I was feeling. “Every death is a mercy” I know that Tanner’s death was a mercy to him. He had lost a lot of muscle strength and was choking on food. He was no longer enjoying life. It was a mercy. Yet my heart broke. As I type this tears start to fall, once again. Even though I know without a doubt that he is no longer suffering, that he is dancing in heaven. It gives me peace.
accessable **
BRENDA LANGDON – of course :) So when you pull up SheReadsTruth .com, go to the menu on the upper far left corner. Select “Reading Plans”. If you scroll down, you will start to see all of the past plans. Once you see the kind of pink/coral colored button that says “View More Plans”, select that. Scroll down, hit “View more PLans” again… you will end up doing that about 4-5 times before you reach the older ones we have been talking about. We are unsure if (come Monday) all of these will still be uploaded for us to access, OR if only the “Kingdom of God”, “1 & 2 Thessalonians”, and “Mark” will be accessible, as they are the 3 studies directly mentioned by the SRT team.
Hope you find what study you are interested in :) :)
Can some one tell me how I can do the psalms study with you all. I am not very tech savvy so be explicit please. I never post but I follow along and read your alls post. It is so good to have community when I can’t get to church and my weekly bible study.
Do you ever feel while reading some part of SRT devotional — Scripture, the actual devotional, or your fellow sisters comments — God is talking to you. Well, that’s how I’ve felt all this week since the death of my sister. It’s been a good feeling. God, Christ and the Holy Spirit have been telling me it’s okay to cry, to miss her, but to go on with my life also and not dwell on it either. I also feel they are telling I will meet with her a again one day.
For all my sisters here in Christ who have had a loss that stays with you, God understands but He wants you to move on and not dwell on it. Yes grieve but also celebrate their life.
Be blessed and God knows what it’s like to loose a family member but He doesn’t want us to dwell on it.
I’m in! Let’s do #5
I can.NOT. encourage you ladies enough to go read ALL of Job 19. Those words are beautiful and precious, but in the context of the entire chapter they are mind blowing and almost unbelievable. The strength of faith and depth of belief in his God. His full trust that God sees and knows him and is personally connected to him. I mean, especially for Old Testament text, it’s literally breathtaking.
I need the constant reminders that are found in 2 Cor. 5… “…so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart. For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us…”
I live in a community surrounded by above-average wealth — some to the degree of almost unbelievable — (please note. this is not MY life I’m speaking about but the schools/neighborhood/families/church communities we are in/around…). These verses in ch. 5 are so necessary for me to meditate on because I find myself jumping between two worlds. The world I’m expected to play in by wearing “these” labels, driving “that” car, taking “certain” vacations, sending my kids to “those” camps, etc. I’m grateful for the “gross-factor” (copyright pending ;) ) that God has slowly grown in my heart towards a lot of it, but then my challenge is to not become judgemental of the people in those groups. I have to live a fine balance of loving them -being COMPELLED BY CHRIST to love them – and remember that when they think I’m weird for not following their status quo, I’m being a “fool for Christ” and He will use that to bring attention to himself. Praying that I keep that compelling-love the center of why I do or say anything that I do or say. Let my “foolishness” bring him glory and attract the lost to Him :) :) ❤️
Oh MELANIE RAINIER, I am so very sorry your troubles during your pregnancy but, what joy you hold today in your arms..
I am also sorry for your family member, for the suffering they endured..
BUT GOD..
He says through Jesus to the man alongside him on the cross..
“Today you will be with me in paradise ”
(Today, you will be in the loving arms of the One you believed in and served..)
(Melanie, I am not making any assumptions that your family member was a bad person, it was more the words of Jesus.)
What Joy-filled Hope that would and must be! To suffer so, to grapple so much with lifes troubles and woes, and yet, at the end, when we think all is lost..
Jesus waits, open armed, to welcome us into Eternity!
I want me some of that, when my time comes!!
Absolutely, MELANIE RAINER, in the words of Job..
“…Even after my skin has been destroyed,
yet I will see God in my flesh.
I will see him myself;
my eyes will look at him, and not as a stranger.
My heart longs within me.
—Job 19:26–27
Lord God, Thank you for the Hope-filled Joy at the beginning of life.. and the everlasting Joy and Hope we have at the end..
AMEN..
HAPPY THURSDAY Y’ALL WRAPPED, AS ALWAYS, IN LOVE AND HUGS AND COVERED IN PRAYERS..❤
REPOST FROM YESTERDAY:
I did a deep dive into some of the older ones hoping maybe newbies would get a chance to do one they weren’t here for yet, and those of us who HAVE done it, it’s far enough removed that it would be like new..?? I did NOT include every option. In order to keep the choosing process easy I’ve just listed 5 options BUT that does NOT mean you shouldn’t voice yourself if there is one on there that just seems perfect for your season right now… Here’s what I have –
1. The Life Of Moses – 21 days
2. Psalms of Gratitude – 13 days + Psalms of Rest- 7 days (20 ttl)
3. Nehemiah – 21 days
4. Ecclesiastes – 21 days
5. Psalm 119 – 14 days + Trust In the Lord – 7 days (21 ttl)
AGAIN. there are about 283,547 more options.
These are 5 to get the ball rolling.
IF you are interested in one of them, maybe just make a post with “I’m in – Let’s do (insert option number here).”
I’m happy to check in over the next couple of days and then I CAN REPORT ON FRIDAY AM, by noon, what the choice is?? I’m not sure if they are planning to put anything out on Saturday so Friday is probably safest…
——————————————————————————————
SO FAR the most votes are for the #2 option:Psalms of Gratitude – 13 days + Psalms of Rest- 7 days (20 ttl)
There is a next study planed – AMOS which will begin Monday, May 22 (from what I can tell from SRT)
THANK YOU @ELEVATE for bringing attention to the information they posted on their Show Notes page – Here is what it says:
If you are reading along with the SRT community calendar, choose one of these plans from May 1 – May 21:
**Kingdom Of God
**1&2 Thessalonians
**Mark
So here’s my question – I don’t know if they might be taking all of the other studies down temporarily while they do the overhaul they are doing over the next 3 weeks.
My plan: I will still post what has the most votes on Friday and I will plan to be doing that study starting Monday. IF however those plans are not available on their website anymore, then I personally will be doing the Kingdom of God. **as a reminder for podcast listeners, you can still access the podcast associated with your chosen study on your listening platform. :)
SO there ya have it :) I’ll update on Friday which study has the most voted-interest! Happy day ladies I need to read the content now!! lol!! :) :)
I hope, and I long and I can’t wait. Job 19:25-27 ministered to me the most this morning. And it reminded me of a song that I heard when I was in my first years of walking with Jesus. If you get a chance, it’s by Crystal Lewis: “My Redeemer Lives”
HEIDI – I’M IN and vote for #2 – Psalms of Gratitude and Psalms of Rest. Thanks so much for setting this up!
MELANIE RANIER, what a blessedly beautiful testimony! Thank you for sharing that – perfect illustration! These Scriptures are so powerful in explaining what our resurrected bodies will be like.
KRIS WAY and VICTORIA E – God bless you! You made my heart smile!
RHONDA J – great post!
Morning Shes! Yes, they announced on the podcast for this week that Amos starts May 22nd- all the info is on this week’s podcast page, as another She mentioned. They suggested three different studies in the meantime. Though I did like your suggestions, Heidi! We have a few days to figure this out :)
God has a plan for us all, either way! May we stay connected with His body and rooted and grounded in His word. Thank you, Lord, that we get to live with You in Paradise one day :)
“Our Future Hope!” Hallelujah! That phrase alone is glorious!
Hope from this fallen world, hope from these earthly, failing bodies, hope from the suffering…HOPE FOR! Jesus IS our hope. It is a big word- Hope. I have hope for my marriage to grow in harmony, I have hope that my son will grow in his relationship with the Lord, I have hope that my pain will go away, I have hope that I will meet you dear SHE”s one day!
May I share that hope daily! Nothing fills me up like sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ! After leaving jail each Wednesday, I have this bubbling over joy in my soul!! They are hungry, and desperate for our Saviour! We don’t know their story, what they did, whether they are guilty or not- but we give them hope. Even in my small pain group- we are desperate for the hope in Jesus. In the suffering, in the unknown- we can share our hope in Jesus, and the knowing that we will be at rest in him one day, and a NEW body, a heavenly body! No rod down my spine, holding me ramrod straight, causing so much aching and miserable radiating pain. Praise God, he is in the midst of my suffering, and I can have joy and peace!
Wishing you all this joyous Hope and peace today!
Amen
❤️
Thanks ALLISON.
Yesterday ELEVATE listed 3 suggestions she saw on SRT instagram.
KELLY (NEO) I’m in – my vote is for your #2 Psalms combo. Happy to do whatever the majority chooses.
❤️
“Every death is a mercy” – wow! Yes, this is so powerful. For those of us in Christ, we will one day receive our new, perfect resurrected bodies. 1 Cor 5:11 reminds us that because we know this – we should try to persuade people – we share the Gospel. We tell them about the Living Hope within us – Jesus!
The Amos study begins 5/22. Rachael did an instagram post that gave 3 older studies as options for the next 3 weeks. I’m not sure if they will post the daily devotions or how the will handle that. She called it “choose your own adventure”. I hope this helps. Praying for each of you!
My best friend was an alcoholic and passed away on her 33rd birthday. That night, amid my tears, my husband held me and told me that it was God’s mercy that brought her up to heaven. That totally changed my perspective and allowed me to see that she wasn’t suffering anymore. She was away from all of her physical pain and she is with our Savior.
KELLY (NEO) where did you find Monday as start date? If you want to reach out, I’m at searchingsrt at yahoo.
Amen
KELLY (NEO) you had me scrambling this morning about Amos start date. A search led me to SRT Facebook page which showed a post 19 hours ago that Amos starts MAY 22.
Oh Father remind our mortal minds of Your Heavenly splendor that awaits us. Let us see with spiritual eyes that death is merely a transition into your Kingdom. Give us strength to run our race as a living testimony. In Jesus name, Amen
I grew up catholic, but didn’t know much at all about God’s Word. When our baby passed away, I was obviously devastated. I saw a commercial about prom or some formal occasion and thought how she would never be able to experience that or get married. I would never get to do things with her that I planned out in my mind. Then, I started to go to a different church and was hearing these messages. I was given tapes with messages and hearing worship music. (Hearing the messages were life lines. I longed for this.) A dear woman from church wrote me a letter and helped me. Another was lead to ask me to work at her Christian daycare. Seeing terrible suffering that my next child would be exposed to, I came to realize that she bypassed all of this! Any earthly activity is not going to compare to Heaven and the beauty and glory there. I definitely would have not thought about death being a mercy as we read above at first, but now I can understand what the professor was saying. I would not have ever chosen this, because I was in such pain and grief. However, I’m believing she is in perfect peace and experiencing joy that I can’t even understand!
In a culture that tends to be very critical of the flaws in our bodies, I love reading about how God loves and values our mortal bodies! Even as we experience brokenness and sickness and decay, we can glorify God in these bodies He created and values. And we can long for the day when we are raised with bodies “fit for eternity.” Come, Lord Jesus!
In a culture that tends to be very critical of the flaws in our bodies, I love reading about how God loves and values our mortal bodies! Even as we experience brokenness and sickness and decay, we can glorify God in these bodies He created and values. And we can long for the day when we are raised with bodies “fit for eternity.”
Amen
I find it hard to imagine a world without death. However I long for the day that I am walking in that reality!
AMOS IS THE NEXT STUDY. IT BEGINS MONDAY.
ALEXANDRA – praying for your peace of mind as you and your family wait for results.