Good News of Great Joy: What About Grief?
a. It’s not always appropriate. As I said, joy in the Lord was not just for the shepherds and Mary in the New Testament but one of the greatest statements on joy comes in the story of Nehemiah and the restoration of Jerusalem. It was at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles when the Israelites were to celebrate God’s provision in the harvest and the rescue from Egypt. The law had been found and it was read out loud to the people from morning to midday. The result of hearing the law caused the people to weep. They saw the perfection of the law and how many laws that they had transgressed. Even the feast days had been forgotten. But the leader’s response to tell the people not weep. It was not appropriate for that day. The day was holy unto the Lord. God himself had set these days aside for celebration and joy, not for tears and weeping and so Nehemiah forbade them from their grief. The day was not set aside to sit around weeping. This was not the appropriate response at this time. God set aside the feast days so that the people might have fellowship with each other and with God. A child of God has nothing to fear and weep over when they are in his presence. His perfect love drives out all fear. And yet, we know there is a time for grieving because grief…
b. Is sacred to God. Psalm 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” God loves the heart that grieves over sins because that is a heart that is turning to him. Tears shed over sin are precious to God. We know that sorrow is sacred to God because Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn.” We should not think that sorrow is wrong or is something God hates. Yet, excessive sorrow that drives us from God or grief that springs from doubting God is what is unacceptable. But those that truly grieve will find that it…
c. Is comforted by God. Jesus said that those that mourn are blessed, “for they shall be comforted.” In Isaiah God says, “Comfort, comfort my people.” In Jeremiah God speaks of his people coming in tears and mourning but then he promises, “Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.” (Jeremiah 31:13). Remember that our Lord himself wept and found comfort in prayer with his Father and the angels ministered to Him. This comfort that is promised is a reality not just sentimentality. 2 Corinthians reminds us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction.” If we grieve over sin, his mercy and grace bring comfort. If we have experienced the loss of friends or loved ones, he reminds us that he will never leave nor forsake. If we experience other kinds of losses God has promised pleasures forevermore. The comfort of God is abundant because Christ suffered abundantly.
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