Acquainted with Sorrows

Mondays are my cleaning days. I was sweeping today, while my boys played with dry macaroni noodles in little cups at the counter, and I had Selah playing. I've mentioned them before, they are that band that has a really similar story to mine and Evelyn's. Aaaanyway, one of their songs triggered a brief moment of inner rememberance of my recent time of sorrow, and I got to thinking...

" (Jesus) was despised and rejected- a man of sorrows, acqainted with deepest grief."
Isaiah 53:3 The Message

Acquainted:
  -having personal knowledge as a result of study, experience, etc.
  -brought into social contact, made familiar.

...Jesus KNEW sorrows, grief.

It only makes sense that when we are becoming acquainted with sorrow and grief ourselves, that we should run to the Man who was "acquainted with deepest grief"! How incredible, to have the chance to walk SO closely with Him, that He would deeply share the experience of grief with us. I'm so drawn to this Jesus, who volunteered for a life where He was "despised and rejected", knowing full well that He (though He is God!) would die the most gruesome, public kind of death to date, all for us. It makes sense, when I think of things from this angle, that we often feel Him the most when we are in the midst of grief and sorrow. If that's where you are right now, look for Him, because He will meet you there.

I told God recently that I would really appreciate a season of peace- that I was done "learning" and wanted a break for awhile :) Well, I'm not off the hook for learning, and my life certainly hasn't turned into a piece of peach-blackberry pie, but He has been granting me that peace. What redemption, after experiencing the "acquainted with grief" side of Jesus, to now be freshly tasting JOY from Him!

A few posts ago, I wrote about when Jesus told the disciples to "take heart", because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).  If you back up in that chapter a little bit, Jesus talks to the disciples about His coming death. In verse 20 He says, "You will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21- It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.22- So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy."

I'm in a place right now where I'm tasting the joy that comes after sorrow, and BOY, only Jesus does that :) The coolest part is, when when WE see Him again, we will be finished with sorrow for good- we will rest in permanent joy!

Also, if you are in the middle of grief, sorrow, and want to share it with someone... I'll listen.