by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Freed to Grieve, Freed to Rejoice

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

Where is our focus? Do we focus on what was and grieve that it no longer exists, or do we look forward to what we cannot yet see, but believe it to be our coming reality?

We live in the tension between these two perspectives. On the one hand, we all have a past and it’s tempting to grieve what no longer is. We grieve that we no longer have our children at home with us, that loved ones have died, wishing that we could create the “good ole days.” Yet we also live with the promise of God of what is coming, a world that we can only grasp by faith in the One who died for us, rose for us, and has prepared a place for us.

It’s not that we can, or should, rid ourselves of thoughts about the past. It’s about not letting the grief of the past rob of us the joy of anticipating what is coming.

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”
Philippians 3:12 English Standard Version

Paul had quite a past, a past that he recalled in is letter to the Galatians, yet he didn’t let his past rob him of the vision of the joy that awaited him. In essence, Paul’s attitude reflected that of Jesus himself.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

Keeping our eyes focused on the promise that’s set before us, we are free to grieve the past and rejoice in our future.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado