To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. “Isaiah 61:3So why does God desire to watch over our grief?
Some ask why doesn’t He simply relieve it, and make the sorrow go away? Well, I don’t know. I don’t have an answer for such complex understanding. What I do know is: I had a very intimate encounter with grief that transformed my life, because I chose to embrace my sorrow.
I once experienced grief to the degree if halted my very being. It left me motionless, speechless, dis-empowered, and speechless. I was in utter despair. In fact, I sunk into a really deep depression. It was a life altering type of sorrow, but the majority of it occurred over the course of only four days. I believe it lasted only a short time – the immensely difficult pain of it – because I embraced the pain. I spent time with God during this period where I shut everything else out – I questioned Him, I recounted the past, I repented, I cried out to God… I even told him how mad I was with Him, and how it had affected my life. Yet I faced it, because I wanted it to be out of my life.
Have you ever experienced a pain so deep that you just wanted to get through it, so that you can get to the other side of it, and be done with it? I was there. I wanted more. So I purposed my self to grieve. To allow grief to be all that it was purposed to be in my life, so that I could fully embrace my life.
So on purpose… I wrangled with God over my grief for approximately 72 hours. I didn’t say “wrestled” - I said wrangled. To wrestle is to fight with God, and to wrangle is to have a dispute or argument with God. (Now… many think it’s – not ok – to argue with your Maker. Yes, I knew my arms were too short to box with God, but I still needed answers. I’d never gone through this type of Red Sea Experience, and I needed to know where was my God (?) The one I’d worshiped and proclaimed to be my all in all, my Lily in the Valley – and I was in a deep dark valley, and needed to know the purpose of this valley, because I could not see my way out. Yet something miraculous happened after the third day. (Sounds familiar?) Three days is all it took for Jesus to redeem all mankind and forever obtain our salvation.
Despite my being completely exhausted and emotionally spent, I came out feeling at peace with myself and those that caused the pain, and I felt like I had been resurrected. From really deep emotional scars and pain I thought I’d never heal from. I had a new found hope. It seemed like I could even breathe better. My breathing was more regulated. I was aware I was breathing, and though it may sound odd, it was a relief. God’s divine providence began to rule in my life after that weekend like it never had before. My future became brighter, and I had been released into a new life. My life forever changed that day when I decided to embrace my grief.
I’m sorry if you have grief today that may be hard to bear. I am not sure why its burden can be so heavy. One thing I am sure of – is the fact that when God gave up His Son, He grieved immensely. Many may even say: ‘Yes, but his grief was only temporal, it only lasted but three days.’ And I would say: ‘The magnitude of the blessing He gave – and the favor and grace it left on this earth far surpasses the grief of it all. For a day with the Lord is as its one thousand years.’ Hmm…that would be interpreted as: God’s grief lasted perhaps 3,000 years, or more. And maybe… perhaps even though Jesus is with Him, He’s still grieving….those three thousands years are not up, yet.
Maybe, just maybe if grief can bring redemption to mankind for eternity, then your grief may also leave a revelation of powerful, prospered, redemption as well. I challenge you today, to see grief as a calling, and not a curse. Allow God to release you from its painful grip and provide a greater purpose for your life.
Selah.
