Recently I was reminded that not all grief is bad. There is good grief that is a necessary and healthy part of life.
Jesus Himself was well accustomed to grief. Isaiah 53:3 describes Him as “a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (NKJV).
So, what is so good about grief?
Good grief brings people to Jesus. God grieves for those who are lost and don’t know Him. Jesus Himself wept for the people of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41).
As Christians, we can be so focused on how good God is to us, we forget that there are people all around us who haven’t yet found God, and don’t personally know His love and goodness. Good grief lets me be acquainted with grief for the lost like Jesus was, and leads to souls saved, lives changed and stories rewritten.
Good grief brings me back to Jesus. We all struggle with pain, loss and failure—a myriad of feelings, experiences and choices that cause us to grieve. Good grief brings conviction, not condemnation. Good grief reminds us that God’s love is bigger than our problems and sins, and leads us back to Jesus to heal and restore us.
This Week’s Prayer Focus [5 in 5]
Personal Prayer
1. Who do you know who doesn’t know Jesus that you should grieve for?
2. What in my own personal life do I need to give to Jesus to receive His forgiveness and healing?
3. God, what breaks Your heart that You want me to be praying for and paying more attention to?
Foursquare Focus
4. Pray for Foursquare ministers to reach out and minister to people in their communities who are grieving.
5. Ask God to guide ministers in stewarding people well. Help us to shepherd those He’s entrusted to Foursquare churches, so that they can be ready to hear the call of the Lord on their lives.
Share your thoughts. See comments below, and add your own.
