Day 1 | Good People Pass Away: Living with Hope, Leaving with Peace | When We Don’t Understand | Loss is Confusing, but God Invites us to Trust His Perspective

Scripture:“The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.” – Isaiah 57:1–2 (NLT)

Death is something that many people do not like to speak about. 

For some, it brings fear—the fear of the unknown, the fear of losing those we love, or the fear of facing it ourselves. 

Others don’t understand it. They wrestle with questions like, Why do good people pass away? Why do the righteous sometimes die before their time? 

Still, some take a nonchalant view of death. They shrug their shoulders as if it doesn’t matter, as if life simply ends and nothing else follows.

Family, loss is confusing, but God invites us to trust His perspective. 

Scripture tells us that death is not meaningless. 

In fact, in Isaiah 57:1–2, we are reminded that even when we don’t understand death, God has a purpose. 

This passage was spoken in a time when Judah was walking away from God. The people were chasing after idols, sin, and rebellion, and in the middle of all this, God allowed some of the righteous to pass away. 

To those watching, it may have seemed unfair or tragic, but God was actually showing mercy. He was sparing His faithful ones from the evil that was yet to come.

When we think about it, this changes our perspective. 

Instead of seeing death as only a painful end, Isaiah helps us see it as a doorway into peace for those who walk uprightly with God. 

It is not God’s punishment—it is His protection. It is not abandonment—it is eternal rest in His presence.

Now, let’s be real. It doesn’t mean we won’t grieve. It doesn’t mean we won’t have questions. 

Maybe you’ve lost someone who was young, full of life, and faithful to God, and you asked, Lord, why? That’s a human response, and God understands our tears. 

But this scripture reminds us that sometimes, what feels like an untimely departure is actually God’s way of sparing them from battles we cannot see. In those moments, our faith must rise above the negative thoughts that try to overwhelm us, and above the voices of others who may not understand the peace God has given.

Think about it: God knows tomorrow better than we know yesterday. He sees dangers, struggles, and storms ahead. And when He calls a righteous person home earlier than we expected, it may be an act of His love and mercy. What looks to us like loss may, in God’s eternal wisdom, be gain.

For us who remain, the challenge is to trust God when we don’t understand. 

Isaiah doesn’t sugarcoat it—most people don’t stop to wonder why good people pass away. They don’t pause to reflect on the bigger picture. 

But you and I, as believers, are called to live differently. We are invited to see death not just through human eyes but through the eyes of faith.

So what do we do with this truth today?

First, we acknowledge that our grief is real, but we hold on to the promise that those who walk uprightly have entered into peace.

Second, we trust God’s wisdom even when we cannot trace His hand. Life—and death—are in His control, not ours.

Third, we let the lives of the righteous inspire us. Their passing is not only an ending but a legacy, a reminder for us to live fully for God while we have breath.

But for the unrighteous, death is not a doorway into peace, but a separation from God’s presence—a sober reminder of why we must live for Him now.

Maybe today we are carrying questions. Maybe we are mourning someone we loved, someone who walked with God, yet passed away too soon in our eyes. 

Remember this: they are at peace. They are resting safely in God’s arms. 

And while we may not understand why, we can trust the One who holds eternity in His hands.

Closing Prayer

Lord, today we bring You our questions, our grief, and even our fears about death. Thank You for reminding us through Isaiah 57 that You see what we cannot. When the righteous pass away, You are not absent—You are protecting and giving us peace. Teach us to trust Your wisdom, even when we don’t understand. Comfort our hearts, strengthen our faith, and help us to live ready each day, knowing that life and death are both in Your loving hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.