The Fragility of Life

“I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”

— 1 CORINTHIANS 15:50-54

Recently, I tested positive for COVID. Since finding out, I have been reflecting on the fragility of this life. My symptoms are overall mild, and I will be fine. Although I am confident I will have a speedy recovery, times like this, along with times of pain, loss, disappointment, anxiety, depression, and conflict, remind me of the fragility of life.

Do you feel the same? Have you ever reflected on the fragility of life at vulnerable times in your life?

The good news is that in the moments we come face to face with the fragility of life, we have the scriptures as the conversation piece and invitation into communication with God. They also contain anchors for us like 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 that remind us of the hope of resurrection and eternity with God.

I feel the purpose of today’s prompt is to invite us all to talk to God about the fragility of life while remaining anchored in the hope of resurrection and eternity with God. I am not for sure what we all may be facing, but there is an invitation to communicate with God in our most vulnerable moments. To discover that he is near and that although things may seem difficult, hopeless, and painful now, our “light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

There is purpose in the earthly troubles and painful losses we experience. Grief, loss, disappointment, illness, and death do not have the final word for those who love and follow Jesus! Someone needed to read that today.

May the hope of resurrection and eternity with God anchor us as we face the troubles, disappointments, and losses of this life. May we remember that now is temporary, but eternity is forever.

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