One painful question I hear from grieving Christians is, "How can you ever stop mourning for a person who rejected Jesus until the day he died?"

Indeed, what comfort is there for a Christian who has lost an unsaved loved one...especially when sometimes, deep in the night, guilt sets in: "If I'd only witnessed more." "If only she'd seen more of Christ's love in me; she'd be with the Lord now."

To those who feel guilt over neglected witnessing, I simply say, let the Lord be your comfort. The same Lord who made you a new person when you accepted Him is there to forgive all our sins. Repent of overlooked chances to witness, ask forgiveness, and ask the Lord to give you the courage to speak out more boldly from now on. Remember, you are washed clean: "...But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11, RSV).

It is the enemy who wants to keep you wallowing in guilt over past mistakes...not your Savior!

As for the loved one for whose salvation you mourn...it's not up to you to judge their final spiritual stand. You cannot know what goes on in a person's heart during their last minutes on the earth. The Lord is the only one with the answer.

Meanwhile, sleep well tonight to regain the strength and courage the Lord wants you to have to be prepared to be a victorious witness and warrior for Him tomorrow.

Heavenly Father, thank you that we may come to You even with our dying breath. I repent of any guilt I carry over anyone else's spiritual condition, which I have no right to judge. I release the matter into Your hands tonight, praise You for Your forgiveness and look forward to witnessing for You tomorrow. In Jesus' Name, Amen.