Finding the Light in Griefናሙና

DAY 2

LAMENT

Welcome back! This week we are studying grief alongside Scripture. Although technically, we only have one verse to study, we will learn a lot about God from it. Tomorrow we will get into the verse, but today we will understand how our grief can be part of our Christian language.

As Jesus prepares for His death on the cross, he teaches:

20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. John 16:20

The Greek word used here for mourn is thrēneō (pronounced thray-neh’-o) which means lament or to give a formal expression to grief.

Lamenting was a process of grief that we read about through Scripture. We will often read about cutting one’s hair, putting dust on one’s head, or even people in the town coming and wailing loudly. It wasn’t uncommon for professional mourners to come and participate in the lamenting process.

The process for lamenting was structured, but it always allowed time for communicating the heart’s feelings to God.

We all, indeed, go through a process of grieving. Perhaps you are in the process right now. Maybe you can relate to one of the five stages outlined from yesterday. Denying our loss or being angry, even at God, can be part of our grieving process.

I want you to know as we close today, God is powerful. He can handle whatever emotions we throw at Him. He understands our pain and has compassion on us.

Lamenting in Scripture came in many forms. Anger, bitterness, questioning, and deep sorrow can all be seen in communications with God over loss. We also can see trust, turning to God, and peace in the heartache of loss.

Lamenting is our grieving communication with God; it is okay for this communication to take many forms. We just want to be mindful of not getting stuck in our anger or bitterness because our goal is to feel peace in our grief. That peace is given to us through the power of the Holy Spirit, which is the key to moving forward in our painful loss.

Come back tomorrow as we seek to understand how Jesus allowed for lamenting.

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