Destination Known
A Story of Replenished Faith and Renewed Joy
by
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“Oh good grief!”—a phrase made famous by the one and only Charlie Brown. But when praying about what to write in this book, waiting for God to lead me to the words He needed me to write, these came to mind: “Good grief.” That statement is an oxymoron; grief is the opposite of good. Yet from God’s view, grief can be for good. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV).
This can be hard to grasp especially when we are facing inconsolable grief. Life on earth can bring tragedy, loss, and sadness that leave an empty place in our souls. We can find it hard to put one foot in front of the other to get through the day. Grief on earth can seem impossible to live with. We can feel hopeless. Yet God is a God of truth. He says He will work all for our good, and He will. One day, it will all make sense. One day, even if that day isn’t until heaven, we will know the meaning of our grief.
Jesus stated in the Beatitudes,
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:3–10 NIV)
We will be comforted in heaven and see God. No matter what, God is before us. It will all be okay. In the meantime, we are called to focus and rely on God to carry us through our grief on earth. Trust His plan, follow His path. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5 NIV).
Last year when I was praying about how overwhelming the thought of Seth’s future was, I felt lost, sad, angry, confused, and overwhelmed. But God spoke clearly to me: “Take this one day at a time, I will give you each day your daily bread.”
Jesus said,
This then is how you should pray, our Father in Heaven, Holy is your name, Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:9–13 NIV; emphasis mine)
Day by day, step by step, God will carry us. We will have what we need for each day; we must receive this gift. His almighty strength and power are ours for the taking. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:29 NIV). I praise God and am so grateful for these promises. I wouldn’t be here without His strength.
He has carried me through my darkest days and has reminded me that alone, I am weak but with Him, I am strong. I am also reminded that the Lord fully understands our earthly weakness and struggles. Jesus lived and walked this same earth fully human. He was betrayed, tempted, tortured, and murdered. Jesus himself had horrific suffering and pain on this earth. His life wasn’t easy, and ours will not be either. God carried Him through it all; He turned the worst into the best—our salvation.
Jesus knew without a doubt that God would care for Him and that He had a great plan. The Lord knows firsthand how we feel; that is why the magnificent strength of our Father is gifted to us. Without Him, we will fail, but with Him, we will prevail and reach our ultimate destination, heaven. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12 ESV).
Grief is not good, but God is. He will erase all the sadness, pain, and grief soon. Until then, we walk with faith and a smile knowing we have the strength of the almighty. We know that He will work all for good and that we have all the greatness of heaven ahead of us.
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About the Book
We are always looking at our future. Our plans for tomorrow or even this afternoon are on our minds right now. It’s human nature to plan. But how often do we think about our ultimate future? Our future that is a secure promise and guarantee?
Much of our lives is unknown; the twists and turns we face in daily life often take us by surprise, but our ultimate destination is known. It is promised. A remarkable life is ahead for us—our home in heaven.
Living in hope of heaven transforms our lives in incredible ways. We can walk with peace, joy, and overwhelming hope because we know where we are headed. Our destination is known, and we can look forward to the most amazing part of our future, our eternal life.
Let’s dive into scripture and stories together in this book and get excited about our future. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18 ESV).
Our future is bright, beautiful, filled with love, and something we should look forward to.
About the Author
Emily Wolf is a wife and mother with an ambitious heart for Jesus. She has seen God moved mountains in her life. Her only child—her son, Seth—inspired Destination Known. She felt deeply that his relationship with Jesus was powerful and needed to be shared. His excitement for heaven from a very young age was nothing short of incredible. Through Seth’s faith, Emily’s eyes and heart were opened to so much she had never known, so much she maybe would have never discovered.