Grief

     I don't know why we sometimes think that grief is a weakness, a sign of a lack of faith.  Why do we try to hide our tears when our hearts are hurting?     God certainly understands grief.  The psalmist tells us that He has stored up all our tears.  He places great value in them.  God's people are never condemned for grieving over the loss of a loved one anywhere in Scripture.  In fact, it is in our grief--a grief that has the comfort of a sure hope--that we show the world the difference between faith and faithlessness.  Jesus Himself is described as being acquainted with grief.  The Holy Spirit grieves over rebellious, insensitive Christians who resist His leading.  Jesus wept along with Mary at the grief she felt over losing Lazarus.  We are commanded to weep with those who weep.  Shared grief is one of the methods God uses to unite His people in bonds of love.  We are called to comfort others with the comfort God has shown us in times of grieving.
     We must not be afraid to grieve.  We must not be afraid to share our tears.  We must not be insensitive to the tears of others.  I believe it is often pride that causes us to resist grieving openly and humbly before our God and His people.  Afraid to be seen as weak--isn't that pride?--we fail to allow God to be our strength.  We resist the grace that is sufficient, the grace that finds its power in weakness.  The child of God who allows His Father to embrace his grieving heart finds comfort--and becomes a more useful instrument in the hands of a compassionate, caring God who calls Himself the God of All Comfort.