The Cleansing Tears of Grief

 

Stress will kill the human body. We allow so much stress into our daily life that we often end up on medication to heal the results of stress on our body and soul. It affects our cardiovascular, endocrine, psychological and immune systems—as well as most of the other organs in our body and our spiritual health. There are many proven healthy ways to deal with stress.

(See: http://www.charismamag.com/life/health/19047-how-to-deal-with-stress-god-s-way)

 

We have stress at work, home and sometimes even in our social life, which makes us sick in body and soul. Scientists and doctors agree that God designed our body to shed stress hormones when we cry. This helps to protect our brain and bodily organs. When we grieve our disappointments and losses, our tears cleanse our soul, but they also help our body.

 

After times of tears, our heart rate and our breathing grow calmer. Tears also produce endorphins, which improve our emotional well-being. Allow your soul to grieve to the extent, and for as long as it needs to, in order to gain relief from your loss. Grief only affects us negatively, when we allow it to take over our life, to exclude us from healthy activities and to closet us from life.

 

Tears will also alert those around us that we are hurting. These people usually respond with kindness and concern, and they benefit us physically and emotionally as well. Grief can strengthen our connections with family, friends and even perfect strangers who stop to show they care. Therefore, do not hold back your tears; let them flow.

 

God uses our afflictions to purify us, to teach us patience and to help us to learn to take authority over the devil (James 1:5). He also uses our grief to cleanse us of inordinate affections and idols, which are deeply rooted in our life. God always brings comfort to us in our sorrows, through other people and by His Holy Spirit. God uses grief to restore our soul to health (Psalm 23:3).

 

God strengthens us through our night of grief, and brings us joy in the morning (Psalm 30:5). He is our ever-present help in times of trouble (Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 46:1-2). As we grieve through our sorrow, its strength dissipates and our soul feels freer. We not only grieve the loss of people and pets, but also treasured objects that were ripped from our grasp unexpectedly. If we do not allow our soul to grieve these losses, we carry that pain with us all of our life.

 

Prayer:

Father God, we often hold on to our grief, because it brings us comfort in some distorted way. We do not realize that grieving through our loss is much healthier for us. Give to all of those who grieve the comfort, which only You can supply; Your deep, internal comfort, which changes our focus and attitude about our circumstances. Thank You also for the Body of Christ, which supports us in our times of sorrow.

 

Thought for the Day:
Blessed are those who mourn, for God will comfort them.

– Matthew 5:4

 

Unchanging Father

Read: Colossians 3:1-4

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him”. - Jeremiah 17:7

 

 

God is the awesome Creator of the universe, who paints a new day for us with each bright sunrise (Psalm 113:3). He brushes in more of His blessings as the day progresses – the beauty of a flower, familiar shapes in the clouds, a bird’s song, a slight breeze to cool a brow, a smile, a hug, an encouraging word or compliment, a deep breath, soothing waves on the beach, an unusual seashell, a rainbow and unexpected savings at the retail store. All of these gifts, and so many more, are signs from God that I am still the apple of His eye and He is hiding me under the shadow of His wings (Psalm 17:8).

Nothing can separate us from the love of God, as He escorts us toward His plans and purpose for each and every day of our lives (Romans 8: 38-39). Still, we often take God’s gifts for granted. How many people do not have the advantages we have because they are poor, blind, deaf or imprisoned? God even gives advantages to the disadvantaged, however.

He shows no partiality and He gives beyond what our mind can conceive to those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry, He sets prisoners free, He gives sight to the blind, He lifts up those who are bowed down, He loves the righteous and He watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow (Psalm 146:7-9).

God is unchanging (Hebrews 13:8). No sin separates us from Him once it is repented (1 John 1:9; Psalm 103:12). No person or event can ever negate His calling on our lives. We walk with Him in the unity of His Holy Spirit, and we live our lives in service to His will (Ephesians 4:3). Even in negative circumstances, He calls us to trust in His goodness and to confidently receive His provision for all of our needs (Romans 11:22; Philippians 4:19).

God raised us with Christ and calls us to take our eyes off earthly issues and to set our affections only on matters affecting His eternal purpose (Colossians 3:1-2). He instructs us to keep our focus on Christ, who is seated at the right hand of our Heavenly Father (Hebrews 12:2). In Jesus, we have died, and our life is now united with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3,Galatians 2:20). When Christ, who is our life, appears in clouds of glory, then we also will have the privilege of appearing with Him and worshiping Him throughout eternity (Revelation 1:7; Colossians 3:4).

Even before the foundation of the world, God had everything in His control (Ephesians 1:4). Nothing takes Him by surprise. Therefore we do not need to worry about anything (1 Peter 5:7). Daily, He showers us all with an abundant supply of everything we need as He unfolds our life to us one moment at a time (Philippians 4:19). God carefully orchestrates every issue in our life for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28). Take a deep breath of God’s peace; relax the tension in your shoulders; look up into God’s face and smile; then breathe out all of the toxic, negative emotions pent up in your heart, and put your trust in His faithfulness (Psalm 36:5).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help us to live our life for You, regardless of our sorrows and disappointments. Hide us under the shadow of Your wings, and nurture our soul as You strengthen our spirit. Give us Your peace, wisdom and joy to face each new day. Help us to finish our race victoriously, as You did Yours.

Thought for the Day:

Our day flourishes when we seek the face of God before we ever see a human face – even our own face in the mirror!




Thank you, Jessica Greek, for the use of your photo.