Praying Through Pain: Moving From Grief to Praise a 10 - Day Plan by Kathy-Ann C. Hernandez, Ph.d.Sample

Day 2

He Carries Our Grief

I have noticed that, as Christians, we often do a lousy job of comforting those experiencing loss. It is almost as if we expect faith in God to inoculate them and us from grieving. Too often, we do not give them enough time to grieve the losses they experience in life. Sadly, we might also feel guilty about giving ourselves time to grieve. After all, we are told in Scripture to “rejoice at all times” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). The unspoken and, quite frankly, unrealistic expectation that we often place on others and ourselves is that we should not dwell too long in the state of grief.

Instead, it would seem like we are almost expected to move in one giant leap from loss to joyful acceptance. This is not a healthy response to loss and is not based on scriptural evidence! When Jesus is confronted with the grief of others, He does not tell them simply that “all things work together for the good” (Romans 8:28). No! Instead, we see Jesus often choosing to share in the grief of those hurting and acting to relieve their suffering. We see Jesus traveling to Bethany to comfort two grieving sisters (John 11:1- 44). We see him offering fishing advice to a boatful of weary fishermen and even making breakfast for them. Can you see him holding the hands of a little girl as her parents grieve outside and saying the life-giving words: “Little girl, I say to you, get up” (Mark 5: 41)?

Moreover, Jesus is described as a man who knew what it was to grieve. Isaiah writes that He was “acquainted with grief” and that He has “borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53: 3:4). That tells me that when Jesus was on earth, He too entered into the human experience of enduring losses in a sin ravaged world. He gave himself time to grieve over those losses. Moreover, He came for the express purpose of “carrying our griefs.” He is still in the business of carrying our sorrows if we are willing to bring them to Him. In these moments, He draws especially close to us, inviting us to tell Him all. He extends that invitation to you and me today through His sacrifice.

Reflect

Reflect on the image of Jesus as a man “acquainted with grief.” What does that look like to you? In what ways is this image reassuring as you process your grief moments?