Although grieving a loss is important and necessary, we can’t afford to let it control our decisions. God should be in control. Our decisions will either hold us back or move us forward. Both directions will impact our lives and the lives of uncountable others.
I worked for 25 years for a company that is always evolving in its business model to do what’s best for the customer, the shareholders, and the employees—although most of the time, we didn’t see it that way. It seemed that every time we got ‘comfortable’ with a program or policy or procedure, we were told to change it. There was always one or two (sometimes more) vocal ‘holdouts’ who were sure that the old, comfortable, tried-and-true was the way to go. I think deep down, it was because they were afraid of failure, or that it would somehow make their jobs harder, or that the ‘bosses’ were just being mean and creating more chaos. It sometimes cost them their jobs (and maybe those of their subordinates) because they were left behind when the changes came anyway. Those of us who embraced the changes always saw a change for the better; and ultimately, better service to the customers, bigger profits for the shareholders, and pay raises or bonuses for us and our subordinates.
God wants what's best for us. He's implementing a wise plan for our benefit, but not only for us. God works for the benefit of everyone. So when we refuse to travel from the old to the new, we not only prevent ourselves from discovering more of God's awesome love, we also get in the way of God's love for others.
In these ‘novel’ coronavirus stay-at-home times, most of us have had to let go of our normal routines and take extra precautions so as not to spread the virus. It has many of us in states of loneliness, anger, and trepidation. You could say we are ‘grieving’ for the comfort we felt in the ‘good old days’. But on the bright side, it’s a good time to reflect more on our relationships with our families, neighbors, friends, and most importantly, God.
The Holy Spirit gives us help and comfort when we pass through our losses, but only if we accept the help instead of cursing the changes. Then we can ‘grieve with joy’. Look at how Paul and Silas handled their imprisonment (Acts 16:22-34). Surely, they grieved when they were arrested, when their wounds throbbed, and when their chains locked them into the darkness of the dank prison. Yet, in their trust of the Lord's love, they were able to sing joyful praise. The result was that the power of the Holy Spirit shook the very foundations of the prison and sprung open the doors.
With faithful, joyful, and earnest prayer, and trust in Jesus, He’ll do the same for us.
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