Surviving Sorrow: Devotions for Parents in MourningSample

Do you ever wonder if God is upset by how hard you are grieving? Have others tried to lessen your grief by pointing toward heaven? I have heard that Christians should grieve differently because of our hope in Christ and eternal life. 

In fact, even Jesus told the disciples that if they loved Him, they would rejoice because He was going to the Father (John 14:28). This statement, however, was made just after Jesus told them:

“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14: 25–27 NASB). 

Jesus was telling them about His death. He was reassuring them by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus wanted the disciples to understand that no matter what they faced after His death, they could have peace. His peace. The peace of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God. 

It’s the only way to survive this, my friend. We must call on the peace of God to wash over us. We can ask for peace to replace the pain. Only God has the power to heal this wound. Yet, when this grief feels overpowering, I think of this fact: Even Jesus wept in sorrow (John 11:35). 

What’s stunning is that Jesus was overcome by sorrow even though He planned to resurrect the dead man in just a few minutes! When Jesus encountered the grief of Martha and Mary, He was deeply affected. Jesus wept. He did not chide the people for crying in mourning for Lazarus. In fact, even when Martha and Mary said things to Jesus like “Where were You?” and “If You had been here, my brother would not have died!” Jesus did not rebuke them for questioning Him or crying out in anguish. Instead, He was overcome with compassion for them (John 11). Jesus wept. Even though He planned to raise Lazarus from the dead, Jesus still wept at the sorrow death brings. 

I believe Jesus weeps at our sorrow, too. Scripture tells us God holds our tears in His bottle and records every single one:

“You have seen me tossing and turning through the night. You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your bottle! You have recorded every one in your book” (Psalm 56:8 TLB).