Jesus knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. But He cried. Why?
He entered the grief of those who were mourning. He joined them in their pain even as He was about to restore their joy.
When I become aware of those who are grieving, I feel Jesus inside me wanting to comfort them.
Last year on a spring evening, we went to the lake at a local mall.
As we passed through the parking lot, we saw a duck repeatedly pulling at something. Being curious, we circled around and then got closer.
The duck's mate lay obviously dead on the payment. He was frantically trying to revive her.
He pulled at her over and over again. He put beak to beak as if attempting to give her CPR or gather up all the kisses he would not have in the future.
My heart broke for him. How does one comfort a duck … or a person?
Nearby stood another duck, present, but not intruding … being there with his friend and just allowing him to have these final moments of intimacy.
We watched and prayed for them. We could not save the duck. We cannot save our human friends.
But we can be close to those who mourn. We can pray. It is what Jesus asked of His Friends when He was in sorrow in The Garden of Gethsemane.
I continue today to pray for all God's Creations who mourn.
If you are grieving, know I am praying for you.
I pray you will receive God's Comfort, the kind of deep, long lasting comfort only He can give.
I pray you have wonderful, sweet memories that will bring smiles and laughs.
I pray you will live the best of the one you loved, so they live on through you.
I pray you will know exactly what God wants you to do now.
I pray you will know God loves you. I pray you will see how He blessed you by giving you the time you had with the one you loved. I pray you will face the future, confident God still has blessings for you.
You are blessed and I pray God's Peace that passes all understanding for you.
Blessed are they who mourn. For they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4
And The Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
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