The Weight of Grief

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

March 30, 2023

Another shooting. A killer breaks into a school and ends the lives of three adults and three elementary school children. An angry identity confused, morally evil twenty eight year old woman seeking her own death ripped to shreds a peaceful Christian community. Grief is the carrying of the heavy load of an incalculable loss. The book of Lamentations is devoted entirely to the prophet Jeremiah’s lament over a destroyed Jerusalem. Once the symbol of God’s faithfulness to his covenant people was mocked and offered up as a trophy to Babylonian gods. In what is the apex of the entire book of tears, God’s faithfulness is fully embraced. A sense of rejection by God is replaced by confidence in the perfections of God. His past mercies by far out weigh the losses experienced. We can carry this comfort in our trauma of unexplained affliction. Godly grief runs to the sanctuary of God’s infinite perfections . It sees God as an ally not an enemy. Pray for the grieving in Nashville that they may claim their joy in the resurrection of hope of Jesus Christ. Ask God to give them support from fellow believers. Seek God for the needed peace which surpasses all understanding.
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“God of all hope and comfort, give to our brothers and sisters in Christ fresh assurances of your power to transform loss into gain.”