Christian Writers Circle

The Grace of Mourning
by Judy Hitson

Psalm 30:11 NLT You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.

After the loss of family members and friends the past few years and recent months, I consider God’s grace in the grief process on earth. I also think of God’s grace for our loved ones who are now absent from the body and present with the Lord, 2 Cor. 5:8.

The Word of God is vital for all stages of life and a true comfort in times of grief. As Christians, God’s Word tells us we grieve with hope. We have the hope of the Resurrection,

1 Thess. 4:13-15 NLT And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.  

The books written on grief can be a practical help to work through the process. Grief is a process. A book titled, Good Grief by Granger Westberg has been helpful in my life to work through ten stages of grief he outlines. This is a book I recommend for others to read in their times of grief.

For me, a time of grief is like embracing the grace of mourning. That is breaking through denial, working through sadness and depression, overcoming anger and coming through to the reality of the loss with forgiveness and acceptance. 

My most recent experience with grief was losing a dear sister in Christ who exhorted me in the faith as a new believer and through the succeeding years since we met at a Bible study in her home in 1980. She was a God friend, one of a few women God brought into my life to help me mature in Christ. The loss of her on earth is sad. She is missed. For many years we prayed together weekly in my home. When that season of life changed, we were sure to meet for prayer and share time on our birthdays each year. Now I am grateful to know she is with the Lord and that we will see each other again when the Lord returns or when He takes me to my heavenly Home.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your grace of mourning at this time. I look to You to be clothed with joy and my mourning to be turned into joyful dancing. In Your name Jesus. Amen.