A Good Cry

Grief is an expression of your love.

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!

– Psalm 126:5 ESV

When people are grieving, Christian singer, songwriter and author, Mike Donehey, says, “Let them weep.” He explained that he believes grieving properly shows the loss mattered. Allow for that instead of telling yourself and others, “It is good. They are going to be with Jesus. Praise God.” These statements are true, but people need permission to mourn.

Grief is not a barometer of your faith. It is an expression of your love. There are many examples in the Bible of those who mourned. They cried out in honesty to God. Then they recounted what they knew to be true of who He is.

In Lamentations 3:1, Jeremiah, who scholars believe wrote the book, cries out to God saying, “I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of the Lord’s wrath.” By verse 22 through 25, he expresses his trust in God, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness … The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him” (NIV).

When you grieve, it means the relationship mattered.

Mike believes to the extent that you allow yourself to mourn a loss, you will also be able to experience joy on the upside of life. Masking your emotions and pretending everything is good, stuffs your grief inside, awaiting an unhealthy eruption.

It is human to mourn a loss. As you cry out to God, also tell Him what you know to be true of His faithful character. Be certain of His love and care for you.

Today’s One Thing

Honestly talk to God about your sorrow. Then recount His faithfulness to you, listing at least five things He has provided for in your life.

Go Deeper

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