Graveside Armory

He’s gone.

My grandpa, the one who constantly provided strength and security and blessing, an imperfect but mighty conduit of God’s grace. He’s been swallowed by the dirt. All that remains is a folded flag and a lifetime of influence.

And yet, he’s more himself now than ever before; more vibrant and alive, unimpeded by the shackles of this world, stretching every redeemed ligament to the limit in holy joy. He’s become part of that glorious cloud of witnesses, joining his voice with the chorus of others who have gone before, cheering us on to fight the good fight.

Our world is a war zone—life versus death—and no ground is neutral. Hell gleefully leans in to see mourners crumple under the weight of sorrow. An inability to release their dead has prevented too many of the living from living. This is where the combat takes place: six feet up. Silent cemeteries resonate on the spiritual plane with a clashing of steel and billows of gunpowder. If the grave will continue stalking those we love to kingdom come, we had better be equipped.

Worthwhile stories often include outfitting little ones for battle: Bilbo Baggins receives a sword and chainmail, Harry Potter acquires the cloak of invisibility, Lucy Pevensie is gifted a dagger and healing ointment, and Luke Skywalker inherits his father’s lightsaber. As I navigated the valley of the shadow of death with my family this past month, some crucial resources supported me. Sooner or later, you might need such tools, too. Consider these recommendations a start for your own personal armory:

• The Real Heaven

This study by Chip Ingram (available here as an audio playlist from his official YouTube channel) was a game changer for me. I processed it in a small group study a few years ago, and it reshaped my thinking. Now heaven isn’t some foggy place I’m okay avoiding for a while; it’s the home I constantly yearn for. So much of death’s pain is created by the unknowns. But Pastor Chip demystifies heaven in the best possible way.

• Every Moment Holy, Volume II: Death, Grief, and Hope

Douglas McKelvey has compiled this beautiful bunch of liturgical prayers for the most brutal situations we face. The description on his website puts it like this: “These are ways of reminding us that our lives are shot through with sacred purpose and eternal hopes even when, especially when, suffering and pain threaten to overwhelm us.” Whether you’re watching your parents slip away, encouraging a dying child, or preparing for the first holiday after a loss, you’ll find words of substance here.

• Chapter Eight: A God for the Grieving

Although I adore Abby Hutto’s book God for Us in its entirety, the eighth chapter is particularly special. She highlights Jesus as the God who roars at and weeps over the death of His beloved. Death is wrong! Knowing Christ’s heart is moved with ours can take some of the edge off.

• Homesick Playlist

Music gets into the core of who we are. I’ve curated a song set that offers my soul a ready cadence when sorrows like sea billows roll. It realigns my perspective and fuels eternal hope even while acknowledging present grief.

Bereavement is inevitable, but we are not left without help. Our great King will come to conquer the grave once and for all, and He sits with us in our ashes in the meantime. Let us take up our weapons and fight with faith in the face of our most grisly foe. Beauty waits for us here on the battlefield.