A Word From Grace: Monday Edition - Grieving Part 2

Last week, I laid out the basic principle of grieving as a spiritual discipline. If you missed that blog, you can find it here. This week, I want to pick up on the same thread and propose a practice that can help bring healing to others struggling with loss. It is also a practice well suited to our times, one that has the potential to bring about healing when it comes to the losses piling up due to COVID-19, injustice, and division.
 
In Romans 12, we find Paul expounding on what it looks like for the body of Christ to interact with the world. In a lengthy list of practices Paul thinks Christians should engage in, one is to “mourn with those who mourn,” “grieve with those who grieve” or “weep with those who weep,” depending on which translation of the Bible you look at (Rom. 12:15). Taking action to wrongs right is important and must not be neglected. At the same time, healing often comes to the wounded when we grieve alongside them. I pointed out last week that this is exactly what God does for us. He grieves with us. He is active in healing our wounds, but he also invites us to pour our hearts (the good, the bad and the ugly) out to him. One way for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world, is by emulating him in this practice.
 
Not only does this help bring healing to brokenness, but it also brings us into closer relationship with God. As we do what he does, we become more like him. When we grieve as he grieves, we get a deeper understanding of his heart for the lost, broken, and mistreated.
 
Application – If we’re going to grieve with those who grieve, we’re going to have to be intentional about talking to them, hearing from them, and letting them know we’re available. While you can’t force someone to open up to you, you can start by being there when times are tough. This means reaching out to those who’ve lost a loved one or a job or to those who are grappling with the injustices they’ve seen or experienced. Yes, it can feel messy and uncomfortable, but press through; be intentional to ask those around you how they’re really doing, how they’re feeling, without rushing to tell how you feel or to prescribe solutions to their problems or platitudes for their pain. The time for solutions and advice may come, but in the meantime, be with those who are struggling. Listen, lament, and grieve alongside them and allow God to bring his healing in the midst.

In Christ,
-Pastor Sean

This week, I thought I’d share a couple worship songs I love. The first is one I’ve appreciated for a while now. It’s a reminder that death has been defeated. The second is newer. It wrestles with the trust required to follow where Christ may lead. Enjoy!

Pray with me!:
- For our Wyldlife MS & YL HS leaders to become an overflow of Jesus' love from the time they spend with Him growing in their faith.

- For God's wisdom and guidance as leaders and I navigate topics of injustice and what God says about it and what our response should look like as Christ followers. May we all reflect His peace, light, truth & love in this broken world we live in.

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God."
Micah 6:8