Worship while you weep
“Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares! His heart is touched with my grief. When the days grow weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Saviour cares.”
(Does Jesus Care? Frank E. Graeff)
In a strange (divine) foreshadowing on October 24, 2023, Vida recalls comforting a friend who had recently lost her grandmother. She shared how the LORD was working on her heart in sorting through the loss of her own grandmother almost two years prior and encouraged this friend to cherish those happy memories and immerse herself in new special moments with family.
Nevertheless, it was difficult to understand the turn of events that would ensue; what lay just a few days away was unthinkable. On November 17, 2023, she would again need the very counsel she had given her friend when a dear family member passed away.
That Death is a designated visitor to most families (1 Corinthians 15:51) is a well-known fact. However, after Death’s finality, who has considered his equally unwelcome colleague: Mourning, more commonly called Grief? Even more, Grief that greets the child of God?
The Oxford Dictionary defines Mourning as “sorrow that is shown and felt because someone has died. Grief.” Does God understand the sorrow that comes upon us? That we feel this loss deeply? Does He have patience for our working through these emotions dubbed ‘The Grieving Process’? Are saints allowed to sorrow?
GOD RESPONDS IN HIS WORD
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)
Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:4)
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4)
You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness (Psalm 30:11)
There, it is proven, not only does God expect us to mourn, but He receives the wretchedness of our weeping and greets it with a kindness and consolation that only He can give.
But tell me…
Do you resent the One who gives and takes away, for taking?
Be challenged now: bless Him anyway! (Job 1:21)
Invite Him into the reality and rawness of your sorrow, for He is not intimidated by it. Rather, He meets us there. Remember the story of Lazarus in John 11? He gets it. Really. Jesus wept. He felt compassion for those who were mourning. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:15)
How can we remain in pain, in the presence of such pure, Stooping Love that seeks to sit with us, right where we are and sweep away the darkness that threatens to overwhelm? The latter we must be very wary of, though, for it is the plan of the enemy for us to be overcome by the sorrow of death. He would have it that we go into depression, restlessness, suicide, anger, resentment, stupor, self-pity, and other forms of hopeless grief. Such things are his tools of working further destruction and death in our lives.
STAY IN HIS PRESENCE AND LIVE
God’s heart is for us to overcome even in the face of the loss of loved ones. We will miss them, but Jehovah’s grace really is sufficient. His very BEING brightens the now-empty corners left by the ones who left.
Stay in His presence and live, sister. Receive the Love-balm as you let Him in, brother. When we pause to be honest with ourselves, we realize that bottling makes us no better and withdrawing makes us weaker. So…be made well by the Healer of hearts. (Psalm 147:3) Mourn, but not like those who have no hope.
Does Jesus care? Oh yes, He cares. This is why He offers us His eternal life. When we receive same, death loses its sting. If you haven’t received His salvation yet, grab hold of the next opportunity He gives. If you have, stay faithful to Him so that this may be true of you…Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalms 116:15.
What’s more, there will be joy in the morning.
Worship while you weep.
Renée McIndoe is an attorney-at-law. Contact [email protected]
