Grief Cripples, Grace Restores

Maybe you’ve been there. An early morning phone call, a sudden knock on the door, or a compassionate look from someone as they deliver the news that cripples you like nothing else ever has.

Losing a loved one is never easy. Family members, friends, colleagues, or random acquaintances come into our lives for a season and one day, often without warning or preparation, they’re gone.

In those moments and in the moments following, many of us find ourselves feeling something that is hard to explain, and usually even harder to face.

Grief has a way of manifesting itself differently for everyone. Some people handle it better than others, given the circumstances, but the common thread is that we all experience it at some point or another. There are some who face grief in ways that render them inconsolable for a period of time. Others keep it buried and out of sight until they can find a private moment to let it go. Some more seem to never get over their grief and walk through the rest of their life a shell of the person they once were.

You may be reading this now, and you may find yourself crippled by your grief. No matter how long ago you faced the loss, it’s still with you. And that’s OK. It’s OK to grieve.

Even Jesus grieved.

John 11 tells the story of the death of Lazarus, and verse 35 of that chapter has been famous amongst anyone who’s ever had to share scripture in a group setting but was too shy to do so: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35)

One of my favourite images of Jesus from scripture is in that moment. It not only shows that he was fully man, with his emotions and hurt and grief over the loss of his friend; but it also shows his compassion, his empathy, and his Grace.

See, Jesus started to weep when Mary, the sister of Lazarus, came to him also weeping. Jesus shared in her suffering and understood her loss and in that moment, I believe, was the comfort that Mary needed.

“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” -John 11:33

If you’re going through loss, or if you’re still not over a loss you experienced in the past, you need to realize today, that Jesus is someone who understands what you’re going through. He knows hurt, he knows suffering, and he knows grief. But most of all, He knows Grace.

What Christ did for us on the cross opened the door so that we may never die.

While loved ones may end their journey here on earth, thanks to Grace, it’s just the beginning. Imagine the joy and relief those gone on before us must experience when they finally reach an eternity of Glory and Majesty. That’s what we need to focus on. That’s what we need to cling to.

Sure, it’s OK to grieve, but let Grace restore you from your grief and know that thanks to the work of Jesus, the pain of loss is only temporary.