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Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23 NIV).

She crawls into my thoughts as I lie in bed on the edge of sleep. I see her reach for her brown stuffed bunny with her little chubby hand. She rocks on her hands and knees but then drops to her tummy to creep closer and grasp the stuffie in her hand.

These memories are no longer partnered with agonizing despair. The sting of grief has finally lifted. In my grogginess, I smile and drift into sleep.

She may appear to me in my dreams tonight as she has done over the last 15 months. But if not, that’s okay.

I know that I will see her again.

I recall what the apostle Paul wrote about hope.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 NIV).

This gives me hope.

I have hope that I will see her again face-to-face.

I have hope that I will hold her again in my arms.

I have hope in heaven.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:4 NIV).