Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known, even you, especial in this your day, the things that make for your peace? ...
Luke 19:41
This week we will continue our look at our study on Emotions and the Heart from the life of Christ. Jesus was not broken by sin, so Jesus always dealt with emotions properly. He used them as God originally intended for us to used. He is our example of how to deal with and process emotions. Looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, will help us to be transformed into His likeness. (Romans 8:29; I John 2:6)
Grief and sorrow can be an all consuming emotions. When experienced, they can push every other emotion into the background of our lives, and if not dealt with properly can cause some to go into deep despair and despondency. Understanding how grief and sorrow play a significant role in our lives can help us to connect to God and to others.
The first mention of grief is found in Genesis 6:6 where the Bible states, "And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart." The sad commentary on the heart of God comes when from a time on the earth before the flood when there was chaos and rampant evil. God is grieved when we choose to reject Him and remain broken.
This is exactly what Jesus was grieving over. Throughout time and history God had brought the plan of salvation to His people. He had worked through the nation Israel to bring a Savior. Jesus, the Lamb of God, came to show His people that the way back to God was through Himself. But His people rejected their Savior. Jesus' expression of grief and sorrow was to weep at what they had missed out on and the consequences that would come because of their rejection.
All our emotions are gifts from God to help us to connect to Him and to others. Proper grief and sorrow opens our hearts to God healing presence. When we come to Him who comforts us in all our sorrows, we gain strength, experience, and hope. (Romans 5:3-5) We learn to hold loosely to people and things that are broken and transient, and instead rely on the One who is the same yesterday, today and forever--our Firm Foundation. His love poured out in our hearts will not only help us to face our own sorrows and griefs, but also allow us to bring healing into the lives of others and thus we will become more like Christ.
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