Day 10

Friday, March 14th

Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted. 

(Ephesian 4:30 MSG)

I don’t like to think about the truth this verse contains. I would much rather forget the truth that God grieves.

But maybe it’s good for me to remember.

When I don’t take God up on His invitation, "Come to me", when I go through my days numb and distracted, or when I choose to stay lost in my worries and fears, He grieves. When I pass by the rope that would keep me connected to Him instead of grabbing hold of it, He feels sorrow. When the chair He made ready for me by the fire remains empty, He feels grief. He wouldn’t be a good father without this aspect of His character, would He? Every good parent is grieved when their children deliberately wander down forbidden paths or when they won’t accept help that will take the load off their shoulders and bring peace and joy into their lives.

We don’t often think about God as a whole person, complete with emotions. His emotions are not the same as ours, not exactly. He doesn’t doubt or hate or despair. He isn’t fickle or petty. He doesn’t worry or fret. But too often I think we picture Him as detached and aloof, and if He has any emotion at all towards us, it’s anger or disappointment. 

I can understand a God who wants to bless us and who delights when we walk in ways that are pleasing to Him, like when we are compassionate towards our fellow man. But a God who grieves? I find that hard to grasp.

Grieving goes beyond any “exchange”, doesn’t it? When we lose someone, we don’t grieve because we can’t give them anything anymore, nor do we grieve because of what they can no longer give us. We grieve because they aren’t beside us anymore.

Is this how God feels about us? A love that goes beyond what we do for Him in the world, a love that goes beyond even his delight at giving good things to us? 

A love that just wants us close? 

A God who grieves.

Yes. Maybe it’s good for us to remember.

The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 

(Psalm 103:13 NIV)