Jesus wept

"Jesus wept." John 11:35
"When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth.'" John 11:43

These verses changed my life!  I had learned that depression was the way to handle life's circumstances when life was overwhelming or chaotic or sad.  Then I saw that Jesus wept, but He didn't stay there!  The next 8 verses tell of Him getting up and raising LazarusI!

It is okay to be sad, to grieve, to be overwhelmed, and to weep.  Jesus did.  But it is not okay to wallow in the grief or sadness.  As time passes, we are to get up and be about the Father's business.

I used to think that Philippians 3:13-14 ("...forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead...") meant that I couldn't take the time to deal with the hurts of the past and present, but that I was to just keep looking forward.  I was learning that one cannot go forward, until one has dealt with the past and then put it behind.  Repressing the hurt or anger only leads to destruction, depression, and even death.  It is okay to weep!

A friend told me that forgetting and reaching were active verbs.  In other words we are to be about the business of putting the past behind and we are to be about the business of reaching forward.  She described a big bonfire.  That fire is our past.  We may be crawling away, walking away, or running away, but we need to be actively moving away.  It is a process.  Sometimes that process comes with weeping and groaning and, hopefully, lots of prayer.

 Then, when the weeping is over, the fire can no longer burn us, and we can reach for the hope of the cross and eternal life.  A Christian who smiles and glazes over anything that would be sad is fake and will eventually reap the consequences of burying their feelings.  A Christian who weeps, who lays prostrate before God in anguish, and then rises to victory and effectiveness will reap joy.

Are you in a season of weeping?  If you are, that's okay, just don't stay there.  Remember, Jesus wept, but then He got up and raised Lazarus from the dead!

Hint for the Day: If you are dealing with bitterness, anger, or grief, give yourself time.  These emotions take a lot of energy.  It is okay if you cannot function up to your normal level during these times.  Make meals easy, don't over commit, and give yourself extra time to be in the word and on your knees.  Tomorrow will come with rejoicing and praise.  Go to Jesus, He is there and He understands.