“I pray for courage to mourn so that I may be strengthened.” - Madeleine L’Engle
Courage is required in mourning because we must first acknowledge that the world is not as it should be, that our lives are not as they should be. Honesty from our deepest depths is deeply vulnerable. It is honesty that says ‘My Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…’ (Matthew 26:39).
Our hope in our mourning is that “…the Lord, who daily bears us up…” is also One who is a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Psalm 68:19, Isaiah 53:3). The One declared ‘…nevertheless, not as I will but as You will (Matthew 26:39).’
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
Lord, bear us up, comfort and strengthen us, and give us courage. Amen.
Amen,
AB