Vulnerable to Grief by Elizabeth M. Thompson

Vulnerable to Grief

By Elizabeth M. Thompson

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces. He was despised and we esteemed him not.

Isaiah 53:3

I am perplexed by the thought that Jesus—God in the flesh—suffered grief. When God became a man he longed to make himself relatable, approachable to us.

Because Jesus suffered losses and experienced grief, He is able to identify with my grief. He knows how I feel and has empathy and compassion for me. Because He humbled Himself to become like us—taking on human form—He understands our pain, our suffering and all the emotional turmoil that can accompany our loss.

Jesus chose to identify Himself with us in our grief. He willingly experienced losses, because of His longing to connect with us in our pain. If He loves us enough to take on grief and suffering, we know He can lead us from the depths of grief to restored joy and purpose.

Dear Lord, thank you for making yourself vulnerable to grief and loss for our sake. Please help me though my grief and lead me to acceptance, contentment and peace. Amen.