A Moment With Pastor Fred
Canadian pastor and blogger Tim Challies wrote considering his 19-year-old son’s sudden death, “By faith I will praise God in the taking as I did in the giving and by faith receive from his hand this sorrow as I have so many joys. I will grieve but not grumble, mourn but not murmur, weep but not whine.”
I was sad to listen to a dear friend recently recount how he had buried his grief over his child’s stillborn death 50+ years ago. He was listening to his wife provide counsel to a male nurse in his hospital room who was struggling with the death of a child too. Why had my friend hidden his sorrow for so long? Why do we as Christians think it is godly to pretend?
Grief is normal. It is normal for people who have loved to experience deep emotional loss. Grief is natural. Grieving is being human. We were created to grieve. God created us with emotions. Grief is necessary. Grief provides a healthy way to cope with loss. People have apologized for crying. I’ve assured them they have nothing to apologize for. Ps 6:6, I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. What is the worst kind of grief? Your own. Jesus wept at Lazarus’ tomb.
The holidays can be a difficult time for those who have lost loved ones. This season of joy is also a season of sorrow. Let us as the Body of Christ be sensitive to those around us. F.B. Meyer wrote, “Jesus is in the rain and the shadow as much as in the light that breaks at dawn.” The Apostle acknowledged we grieve – but not like those who have no hope. We have hope because of Christ and his promises.