A Time to Mourn

One of the many things that God has so graciously taught me through various times of heartache is that when we encounter loss, it's important to take the time to mourn. Whether it is a physical loss through death, or the loss of a friendship or relationship, or the loss of a job, or the loss of good health, going through a grieving process is not a luxury. It's not trivial.

Ultimately, loss of any kind (as I see it) boils down to the loss of a dream. And dreams are painful things to let go. I've had difficulty letting go of dreams, even though in my heart I knew that God had something better in store for me. The good news is, God does not expect us to give up our dreams without feeling a sense of loss. And He does not begrudge us mourning that loss.

Indeed, as Solomon so wisely expressed it in Ecclesiastes 3, there is a time for everything, including a time to mourn. When Jesus encountered Mary and Martha after Lazarus died, and He saw the sorrow they were experiencing, did He chastise them for mourning for Lazarus--(after all, Lazarus was better off in Heaven than on Earth, right)? No, instead, Jesus joined His friends in their grief.

Certainly, there is a healthy way to mourn and a non-healthy way to mourn. Right now, I'm focusing on mourning in a healthy, God-glorifying way (and yes, God can even be glorified through our grief). I am not ashamed to cry. I don't put time limits on myself, don't tell myself I should be over this loss by now. Only God knows how long the mourning process should last, and I trust Him to lead me through it. The road is still painful at times, but I know that I'm not alone.