What Jesus Says About Grief

You've been told that happiness is You've been told that happiness is impossible for those caught in a storm impossible for those caught in a storm impossible for those caught in a storm of grief. of grief. of grief. And Jesus says, "Happy are those who And Jesus says, "Happy are those who And Jesus says, "Happy are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Even mourn, for they will be comforted." Even mourn, for they will be comforted." Even in our Christian culture, sometimes we in our Christian culture, sometimes we in our Christian culture, sometimes we have misled people with emotional ideas have misled people with emotional ideas have misled people with emotional ideas that are empty, like faith over that are empty, like faith over that are empty, like faith over feelings. feelings. feelings. Faith it till you make it. Just because Faith it till you make it. Just because Faith it till you make it. Just because it looks good on a bumper sticker it looks good on a bumper sticker it looks good on a bumper sticker doesn't mean it's true or scriptural. doesn't mean it's true or scriptural. doesn't mean it's true or scriptural. No, what Jesus is saying when he says No, what Jesus is saying when he says No, what Jesus is saying when he says the words "Blessed are those who mourn," the words "Blessed are those who mourn," the words "Blessed are those who mourn," he's reinforcing the reality that we he's reinforcing the reality that we he's reinforcing the reality that we will mourn, that you have permission to will mourn, that you have permission to will mourn, that you have permission to feel what you feel. Now, you don't have feel what you feel. Now, you don't have feel what you feel. Now, you don't have permission to stay in what you feel, but permission to stay in what you feel, but permission to stay in what you feel, but you have permission to bring the work of you have permission to bring the work of you have permission to bring the work of the gospel even into the dark emotions the gospel even into the dark emotions the gospel even into the dark emotions of your life, and you'll realize that of your life, and you'll realize that of your life, and you'll realize that the gospel even works there. the gospel even works there. the gospel even works there. That because of the love and the grace That because of the love and the grace That because of the love and the grace and the goodness and THE JOY THAT JESUS and the goodness and THE JOY THAT JESUS and the goodness and THE JOY THAT JESUS OFFERS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO FAKE a OFFERS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO FAKE a OFFERS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO FAKE a Christian smile, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO Christian smile, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO Christian smile, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO FIND one because you realize that even FIND one because you realize that even FIND one because you realize that even beneath the depths of your sorrow and beneath the depths of your sorrow and beneath the depths of your sorrow and despair, there's something even deeper.

despair, there's something even deeper. despair, there's something even deeper. It's the joy of the Lord, and it's your It's the joy of the Lord, and it's your It's the joy of the Lord, and it's your strength and comfort.