As they approached the village gate, they met a funeral procession—a woman’s only son was being carried out for burial. And the mother was a widow. When Jesus saw her, his heart broke. Luke 7:12
Jesus and His disciples were going from village to village preaching, teaching and healing. A widow’s son had died, and she was on her way to bury him. When Jesus saw the funeral possession, He was broken-hearted and raised the son back to life.
Sometimes, depending on how we were taught, we think of God as sitting on a huge throne waiting for us to sin again and shaking His head at our failures. Or we may think that He is so busy caring out His plan in the world that He doesn’t have time to be concerned about our issues great or small. When I read those words, “His heart broke,” I was reminded of my daughter’s death. As I lay prostrate pounding the floor crying out to Him my “whys” and ‘what did I do wrong,” I remember hearing Him very clearly speak to my heart. He said that He was crying with me and reminded me that he understood as His Son died too. That was the first time I realized God suffered grief and pain. I just assumed it was all in His will, so He would just pat us on the head telling us it would all be made right someday. But that day I realized when God made us, he gave us all the emotions He had, so we could truly represent Him to a lost and dying world. At that moment I realized I could grieve and express my emotions, even screaming at Him, and not pretend because I was a Christian, I was to joyfully accept her death as His will. His heart breaks with ours, He grieves with us! This was not part of His original plan for us. I felt His tears mingle with mine that day.
Father, thank You for revealing this truth to me, Your heart breaks with mine! And that tells me that You also rejoice with me and understand all my emotions! You share my pain, my grief and my joy. And, yes, You tell me I will see my precious Amy again someday. You are such a compassionate and caring Father!
Journey with Joyce 