It’s OK to Allow Ourselves To Grieve

2 Samuel 1:1-16

Like David, lots of people mourn in the Bible. Yet, we often don’t allow ourselves space or vulnerability to feel the emotions raging through our bodies and minds in times of loss. Sometimes, we feel that to mourn as people who have hope in Jesus means we can’t show our sorrow. But, there is a common theme among mourners in the Bible—grieving outwardly, showing their feelings, and turning to the Lord for comfort and answers. They speak to our Creator, ask Him questions, express grief, turn to Him, and trust Him to comfort them. Jonathan was David’s best friend. King Saul, though often misguided, was David’s leader. In 2 Samuel 1, when David learned they had died in battle, he grieved. “They mourned and wept and fasted till evening” (2 Samuel 1:12). Even Jesus grieved and wept over loss. When Jesus saw Mary weeping over her brother Lazarus’ death, Jesus met her in her grief and cried with her (John 11:32-35). Loss doesn’t necessarily mean death. Loss can be anything—losing a friendship, inability to get pregnant, a major life change that changes the vision you had for your future. These are all losses, and it’s OK to mourn them. When Nehemiah heard Jerusalem’s wall was in shambles, he “sat down and wept and mourned for days, and [he] continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4). If these Bible heroes, and even Jesus, showed grief, we have the freedom to express our feelings, too. And, in the process, we can mourn with hope by inviting God into our sorrow with us. There is no greater comfort than in the arms of our heavenly Father. He brings peace in situations that are anything but peaceful. He brings joy in times of sorrow. He brings light into the darkness. Reflect:

• Have you ever felt that because you have hope in Jesus, you can’t express sorrow?
• Is there a loss you need to create space to allow yourself to grieve? What is one way you can do that?
• Do you turn to the Lord in times of trouble? What verses comfort you in these times? Psalm 42, Psalm 43 and Psalm 73 are great Psalms to help you through mourning.

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