He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Isaiah 53:3, LSB
We don’t like grief. This may seem like an odd statement because to like grief would seem like a weird thing. Our dislike of grief, however, is so great that we try to avoid it and cover it up as best as we can. We put it away from us and seek to avoid publicly showing our sorrow and grief. Instead of a funeral, we have a celebration of life and try to make it less of a time of mourning. Jesus was not only acquainted with grief, but He had a very intimate relationship with grief. He didn’t run from it, but let it wash over Him so greatly that it caused Him to sweat blood. To be in constant grieving, most of us would agree, would not be healthy, however, the avoidance of it is also not helpful for us. To grieve shows our compassion and our loss. As we look at our world, it would be healthy for us to grieve how much has been lost and how far many have strayed from God. To grieve the children living outside of God’s grace and desire the Gospel to faithfully be declared to all of our communities. As we grieve, we can look upon the face of our Lord with a different clarity and understand His heart. We do not grieve out of hopelessness but grieve with a desire to see our world transformed in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this, we may find our peace.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.