Did I get your attention with that title? That's biblical, you know. It is. Read this:
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." --Luke 22:42 (emphasis mine)
You see? Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, had a moment where He didn't want to do the very thing He was sent to this Earth to do in the first place. He worried. He was upset. Now, He did not let that worry stop him from doing what He was called to do. He acted regardless and was obedient to God's will. But that didn't change the fact that He was scared. Or worried, or sad, or any other negative emotion He might have been feeling.
Today's society is so terrified of the unhappy person. We says things like "Worrying is a sin," and "The Devil is trying to steal your joy" and "The fact that Jesus loves you means you should be happy." And if we manage to avoid those catch phrases, we replace them with things like "I understand how you feel" and "It'll be okay in the end." And we expect those magical words to somehow make the unhappy person we're trying to comfort instantly better. And when it doesn't work, when the person honestly does not feel better, we turn it on them. "You're just selfish." "No one always gets what they want." "You're obsessing over this issue."
But you know what I read in the Bible? I read about people who are passionate. I read about people who knew how to mourn and be sad like no one else. I read about a shepherd turned local hero who is pursued by the king and he cries out, "My God my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22). I read about a wealthy man who lost his wealth and his family all in one day, only to later lose his wife's support and his health, and his demeanor was so pitiful that it drove his friends to mourn with him (Job 1-2). I read about a loving Teacher that is so distraught over the grief of his friends that He is moved to tears himself (John 11). And I read about a prophesied Savior who, at the eleventh hour, didn't want to go through with what was expected of Him (Luke 22).
Now, as I said before, all of these people trusted God and moved forward with what was expected of them. Their fear and worry and doubt and sadness did not stop them. But they were allowed to feel what they felt. And, as followers of Christ, if we really want to be of help to those hurting, we need to allow them to hurt. Yes, offer support. Listen when they talk. Be there when they really need something. But don't tell them their negative emotions are the work of the Devil. Don't tell them their worry or concern or depression is separating them from God. In truth, it may be that desperation and grief that drives them that much closer to Him. It's okay to not be put together. It's okay to be broken. And, most importantly, it's okay to be honest about what you really feel with the One that created you. (Besides, He's God. He knows how you really feel anyway, so why bother trying to hide it?).
There's my rant for the day.
Keep Soaring,
B
