Comfort When You are Grieving

Life isn’t without sorrow and most of us will need comfort sooner or later because we are grieving the loss of someone close. God does not leave you to suffer alone and offers compassion and joy for your future.

Even when you are sure that you have placed your trust in Jesus as your personal Savior, and know that your loved one knows Jesus, the vacancy they leave in your life leaves you grieving deeply.

If your loved one would be able to return to earth for just a few moments they would tell you how wonderful it is in heaven and not to be sad that they moved to their new home.

But we have to deal with grief as we miss the huge part they played in our life.

In the last few years, my mother-in-love, an uncle, my cousin passed away. And now my sweet sister-in-law is nearing the end of her battle with cancer. They all know the Lord and I will see them again someday in heaven, but it still leaves an empty place in life.

They all know the Lord and I will see them again someday in heaven, but it still leaves an empty place in life.

When we have losses in our life, it makes the story about how Jesus comforted the widow of Nain when her only son died, all the more precious.

Digging Deeper: Luke 7:11-17

Key Verse:  When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Luke 7:13

Jesus Meets up with a Funeral Procession

When Jesus went around the Galilean region, huge crowds gathered and followed Him everywhere.  Many of His disciples went with Him.

Then, at the edge of the city, a young man who had died was being carried through the gate in an open coffin. His mother and a crowd of people followed as she wept in deep despair over her son’s death.

At that moment, Jesus came into the city with His disciples with a crowd following Him.

Can you imagine what this mother was feeling?

She had only one son.

She was a widow.

In the Hebrew culture, a widow had no Social Security benefits or other types of insurance after the husband died. She would live with her children and help with the chores and economy of the family farm or business.

Now that her only son died she would have no hope of sustenance. Her lot would be destitute poverty and misery for the rest of her life.

As Jesus came upon her, He had compassion for her and offered comfort and joy for her future.

Jesus never gives us empty promises but realistic ones that He fully intends on bringing about.

Do Not Weep!

I don’t know about you,  but tears are unstoppable when you lose a loved one.

Jesus did not like death and grieved deeply when confronted by death.

He felt deep compassion for this woman and said the most amazing thing to her.

“When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Luke 7:13

Now, there is nothing wrong with a mother weeping over a child who passes away.

Why would Jesus tell her to stop crying?

Jesus is showing this woman that her sorrow will be turned to joy. His words of compassion would have been thoughtless without the power to back them up.

Jesus Raises the Boy from the Dead

Jesus had a habit of breaking up funeral processions by raising the dead back to life – and here in this account, He does it again!

• He raised Jairus’ daughter back to life (Luke 8:41-5b)
• He commanded the dead Lazarus to walk out of the tomb (John 11:1-45)

Jesus did not like death and looked on it as the enemy that had to be defeated.

As Jesus approached the funeral procession, He reached out and touched the coffin.

And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” (Luke 7:14)

The coffin was open and so this builds a powerful image in our minds as Jesus looked at the boy and speaks to him as if he were alive!

God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; (Romans 4:17b)

Comfort When You are Grieving

Jesus is still a comfort-giving friend.

If you have lost a loved one, Jesus cares for you just as He did for the widow of Nain.

He is telling you not to weep.

He wants to give you His joy to rise above your circumstances and live a future filled with hope.

Jesus never gives us empty promises but realistic ones that He fully intends on bringing about.

3 Verses to Comfort

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8)

Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)

He heals the brokenhearted, And binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)

Jesus cares for you and wants to comfort you when you are grieving. Trust Him and seek Him with all of your heart because He will never forsake you no matter the depth of despair and grief you are experiencing.

If you would like me to pray for you, please leave a comment, private message me on Facebook, or email me.