A Necessary Grief
A few months ago I sensed the Holy Spirit show me a picture of a broken people on their knees. There was a heaviness in their souls as they stared at the hard ground beneath. The ground was so dry, deep cracks covered the barren landscape. No one spoke, no one looked up, no one moved.
As I walked among the people, young and old, from all walks of life and cultures, there was an intense grieving. I got closer and could see the source of grief written over their heads 'loss' 'isolation' 'abuse' 'rejection' 'anxiety' 'sickness' 'hopelessness' 'oppression'.
I knelt down beside a young lady who was bent over in grief, her face almost touching the dust. I immediately noticed the stream of tears silently running down her face. I asked the Holy Spirit how I could help her, and His reply was simple "grieve with her - for this is a necessary grief".
As we knelt together in that dry and barren place, we wept and grief watered the landscape.
IT'S TIME TO KNEEL WITH THE BROKEN, AND GRIEVE WITH THE HURTING.
We can't afford to step over and disregard those grieving. The time for a pep-talk has not yet come, our faith is shared in tears before it turns to joy.
It's time to water the harsh land with godly tears for the oppressed and the isolated. When we hold space for necessary grief, whether our own or another's, we are holding space for healing. We hold space for truth to bring light and the gentle comfort of a loving God to envelop the hearts of those hurting.
God will not waste the tears of this necessary grief. He is using them to revive the hopeless, refresh the weary, unite community, and re-establish joy.
"You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." Psalms 56:8
The loving Father doesn't collect our tears because He rejoices over our sorrows - He collects our tears because we are precious to Him. Every tear will water His plans and purposes causing beauty to flourish.
In our grief mercy and comfort extend to the depths of our pain, strengthening us.
"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
As we lift our head, being comforted in our grief, we cast our heart's eye to those still with their face to the ground. Extending the comfort we received, we bend low and strengthen another.
My grief is necessary, your grief is necessary, the grief the world is experiencing is necessary - and this grief will soon give way to a greater intimacy with the Comforter of our soul.
Elise Heerde is a wife, mother, author, and Bible teacher from Melbourne who loves Jesus and passionately shares about the grace, hope and love that He offers to all. She deeply desires to see the broken made whole, the captives set free and the lost brought home.
Instagram @eliseheerde
Website eliseheerde.com
