Grief seems to be a bummer. Sorrow doesn't just happen at casket's sight. It rears its head when being jilted, abandoned, and abused.
Grief grieves.
Grieving is depressing.
But Jesus. But Jesus started his State of the Soul address with a stunning sentence; Blessed are those who are down. An odd way to start a New Life campaign. Not very positive, Jesus! Don't you get us?
And then the second sentence trails with more of the same; Blessed are those who mourn.
How blemished can this man's insight be? And he expects to build a following? I don't think so.
But....it seems the Son of God knows a thing or two about kingdom operations. It begins at the beginning with the lowest point of the heart and then builds. Blue and mourning spirits are the place to begin for authentic, impactive, out-reaching life.
In The Journey of Desire, John Eldredge points us to the enigma of deep and burdening spirit pain. The paradox of grief is that it is healing; it somehow restores our souls, when all the while we thought it would leave us in despair. Control is the enemy; grief is our friend.
Because we can miss such a God-moment, grief can seem to be an enemy when striving to control our surroundings is the culprit.
I urge you not to waste your times of mourning. As Jesus went on to say, these own the kingdom and their future is one of comfort...Mt. 5:3-4.
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