Experiencing God's Presence #56

Experiencing God's Presence #56

How I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from me.

Ezekiel 6:9, NIV

If God is love, as His Word declares, then He experiences grief. That’s because it’s impossible to love in a broken world without some kind of heartache being involved in the process. In a perfect environment, where love is never violated or rejected, grief doesn’t come with the territory. Among fallen human beings it’s inevitable. And God has chosen to love fallen human beings.

Jesus, the image of God, wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44). Its people didn’t know the heart of the God who had repeatedly come to them through prophets and this Messiah. Paul said it’s possible to grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). And here in Ezekiel, the Father declares clearly that He is grieved by hearts that turn away from Him. All three members of the Trinity are capable of grief, and in His Presence, we will sometimes feel it.

That’s not abnormal in this world. If we have God’s heart within us, we’ll know the pain of rejection and betrayal. We’ll sense the loss of the original goodness of creation and the wounds of straying from God’s plans. We won’t experience those things without hope—the Spirit of God within us knows all about redemption and the glories of heaven and the age to come—but we’ll know the ache of unreturned love now. Our God is not unaffected by rejection, and neither are we. It hurts.

When you experience grief, let it serve as a glimpse into God’s heart. Say to Him, “Oh, so this is how you feel when I reject you.” Let it be a bonding moment between you and your loving Father. Know that those who mourn will be comforted. And all grief will be wiped away.

Father, grief is hard. How does it feel in an infinite heart? I couldn’t handle that. I’m sorry for the pain You feel. May You never have cause to grieve over me. And may Your grief—our grief—over others bind us together and draw them to You.