October 8/9, 2022

At Times We Will Mourn

Key Verse to Read and Treasure

A time to mourn (Ecclesiastes 3:4, ESV)

For Insight

“Mourning” is described as a time where deep sorrow is felt is expressed. It doesn’t have to be over someone’s death but can include something such as mourning or having regret about the loss of something. It’s typical for the family of those classified as missing, or who have vanished, to go into deep mourning. Sometimes we may mourn loss of health or mobility. It’s not unusual to mourn the loss of a career or something we really enjoyed doing. The loss of anything that had or has value to us can cause us to mourn.

The year my mother died suddenly ushered in a time of deep mourning that seemed to go on forever. It did not help that we were living away from family who would have been a tremendous support and help in those days. We’ve mourned other losses, including deaths of family and close friends that left us emotionally shattered, empty, and hurting. And there have been the losses of possessions throughout the years of ministry that have saddened us also even though we took them in stride and did not let them turn us from serve others.

God makes comforting and powerful promises to those who mourn. He promises to lift us up to safety (Job 5:11); to give us beautiful headdress instead of ashes and the oil of gladness instead of mourning (Isa. 61:2,3); a spirit of grace (Zech. 12:10); and to bless and comfort us when we mourn (Matt. 5:4). Any, and all of these can be a great comfort and source of strength for those who mourn for any reason.

Because God promises to be with us when we mourn, we will not be alone. Even if we don’t have family or caring people nearby to comfort or help us. we also don’t need to be afraid to mourn. Each one of our tears are precious to God. Psalms 56 says God keeps track of all our tears and places them in a bottle (Psalm 56:8). What a loving, tender, and caring Father we have! Whatever or whenever we mourn, we never have to be afraid it will be the last season or emotion we experience because God always has a time of joy in store for us even if we can’t imagine it at the time.

Check Yourself

Have you allowed yourself to mourn your losses, trusting God to be with you; knowing he will also heal you?

Praying Ecclesiastes 3:4

Jesus, there is so much we will mourn in this lifetime. You have walked this journey so you know how difficult loss can be. We’re grateful to You and the Father and Holy Spirit for covering us and helping us recover from any loss we experience. Amen

Digging Deeper