15 | Cradled in Hope Book Club | Ch 14 | Ashley Opliger

In this episode, Ashley walks through Chapter 14 of Cradled in Hope, “Our Future Forever: When You Long for Your Heavenly Home.” She invites grieving moms to set their eyes on eternity and live with urgency, hope, and peace in the promise that Jesus is coming back—and that we will be reunited with our babies in Heaven.

Ashley shares vivid memories of the day Bridget was born and went to Heaven, and how the fleeting nature of time shaped her longing for eternity. Through Scripture and personal reflections, she explains the biblical truth of the Resurrection, why she believes it is coming soon, and how we are called to live as we wait for Jesus’ return.

In this episode, Ashley shared:

Why she ended the book by focusing on eternity and the return of Jesus

A powerful visual using a skein of yarn to represent how brief our time on earth is compared to eternity

Scriptural truths about the Resurrection, glorified bodies, and our Heavenly citizenship

The comfort of knowing her daughter Bridget is already part of her eternal family

Reflections on her own mortality and how the sudden loss of her dad deepened her desire to live with intention

The difference between the Rapture and Second Coming, and why Ashley believes Jesus could return in our lifetime

How Christians are called to “keep their lamps burning” and shine the light of Jesus as they wait

A fresh perspective on the story of Lazarus and how it mirrors our hope in Jesus’ Resurrection power

The word “Maranatha” and how it shaped the closing of this chapter and the entire book—He is coming soon!