“That song came on today.
The one that hurts my heart to hear.
The one that lives deep in my core.
The one that transports me back to days of singing it with you.” – Liz Newman
The Doxology… That’s the hymn that evokes both heartache and beauty equally. It’s the song that my Grandma would have us sing at gatherings. It’s the song my husband and I sang to her over Zoom, marking our final goodbye. It’s the song that, when I hear at church, brings tears to my eyes.
Grief is complicated. It doesn’t follow a timeline or predictable pattern. One moment you’re on the surface, and the next, you’re deep below, submerged by overwhelming emotions.
Grief shows up in many forms –
The loss of a loved one.
The end of a marriage.
The shattering of dreams you once held.
The loss of the life you thought you were going to live.
The heartache of losing the person you believed them to be.
If you’ve gone through any of these things, you know the unwanted familiarity of grief.
As much as we want to avoid the heaviness feeling that comes with suffering, I’ve learned that it is necessary to feel the pain in order to heal.
In the Bible, we see how Jesus responds to his brother’s loss.
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. Where have you laid him?” he asked.
Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
Jesus wept.
Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” John 11: 33-36 (NIV)
When I read these verses, I see how Jesus responds to his own grief. He didn’t just try to pretend everything was ok or offer good advice to everyone else who was grieving. Instead, he felt the emotions and wept. He demonstrated his humanity, compassion and his ability to relate to our suffering.
Even though he knew he would raise Lazarus from the dead, and even though he knew death wouldn’t be forever, he entered into their pain.
Even when we know the story ends well, he reminds us that it’s okay to cry during the sad parts.
Grief is a reality to which the Bible plainly speaks – a reality that will one day be redeemed by a far greater joy.
But until then, if you are grieving, HE weeps with you.
And if you find yourself with a friend who is grieving – SIT and CRY with them.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 (NIV)
I have always loved that verse, but when I read the MSG version it hit differently. I pray it blesses you wherever you are today. (verse below)
