John 11:35 Jesus wept.

We are approaching the holiday season where for some, it’s deemed as a joyous occasion, and for others it’s a time of sorrowful reflection. Remembering the plates we won’t have to set because of the absence of loved ones not being here and fighting the depression that tries to couple with those memories. If nobody ever told you, let me be the first to say, God understands.

We see the focal verse, which is coming from the book of John, and how it describes an emotion that Jesus shares with us. Jesus wept. He wasn’t just sad about the news He had heard. There was emotion led with compassion regarding the death of Lazarus. From this short verse we can discern the humanity Jesus felt while being God in the flesh. He took time to mourn and so should we when experiencing those moments of grief. God doesn’t want us to shy away from our feelings. He’s not asking us to act as though they don’t exist. Some may not only grieve loss of loved ones but also the pain of ending a relationship or a job that’s been terminated. Whatever your heart may be experiencing as a loss or pain during this season, know that God understands more than you know. I would encourage you to invite Him into those moments and allow His Spirit to comfort you.

There are also some tangible things we can do like reaching out to trusted love ones when feeling down. Finding a credible Christian counselor to help you work through what you’re feeling with the Word of God. You can also do something to help ease your mind like crossword puzzles, coloring books, a good book, and of course studying the Word of God. Depending on where you are maybe try leaving your home to walk around a local mall, sit at a coffee shop, or go to your local church to sit at the altar. Whatever you find yourself doing, I hope you understand to not isolate yourself in what you are feeling. There are mental health professionals as well as Christian counselors ready to assist you in your time of grief. Most of all God cares and He understands! Let Him comfort you during this season.

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