MamaArcher's Blog

Freedom To Grieve

It saddens me to hear of others being beaten down when they are grieving.  Sometimes people seem to think that when you are a Christian and have the hope of Christ that one should not grieve at a loss or that they should do it more graciously.   I have lost many that I love.  Most in my family were not Christians.  I have also known several people who have died who did know the Lord.   There is grieving either way but there is a difference.  If you have ever experienced both, as I have, you know the difference.  The difference is not in whether you grieve but in how you grieve. If grieving  for a Christian there is still a loss in the death but with a future comfort.  If grieving for a non Christian there is not only the the loss of the life but of the eternal death without hope.

Often times when there is someone who has been such a bright ray of light for Christ in your life and then they go through a tragedy we expect them to breeze through things joyously.  We may not admit to that but we often do not know how to handle the depth of their pain.  It is uncomfortable and we often want them to appear stronger in order for our faith to be strengthened and to avoid the pain ourselves.

Though Christians have an everlasting hope with great peace and comfort that does not mean that we do not experience loss, pain, anger, or question.  It is possible to do all of those things and still rest in God.

We must not forget that people grieve differently, that grieving is important, and to not dismiss one’s emotions.  Unless we are in their place we cannot feel what they feel.  Often our minds and hearts know and trust the Lord yet our emotions do not always fall in line.  This is a battle and one which must be faced.  Let them fight with their emotions and cry out to God.  Let them question and seek answers from the Lord.  Let them cry, mourn, and grieve.  It does not mean that they are no longer trusting the Lord, it does not mean that they have forgotten their hope, it is uncomfortable but it is also what draws them closer to the one who can truly bring comfort.  Do not hinder that by requesting or even at times demanding that they “be strong” and “take heart”.  God is big enough to allow them to grieve and to carry them through.  We must allow them to grieve and to let the Lord work.

Romans 12:15

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

It seems easy to rejoice with those who rejoice. The test comes when we are called upon to weep with those who weep. It is a more difficult task, one which costs us more, and one in which we are called!