We spend so much time and so much money trying to avoid physical pain. Likewise, we spend time, money, and sorts of personal resources trying avoid or ease emotional pain. In the Bible mourning was woven into the fabric of life. In fact, the clothes worn were used as visible exclamations of mourning and lament as they were torn apart in the face of deep grief. Biblical characters like David, Jacob, Job, Peter, Mary and Martha, and even Jesus Himself mourned to the point of shedding tears. Mourning is Biblical. There is even an entire book of the Bible called Lamentations written by Jeremiah who was known as the “Weeping Prophet” because of his laments found in the Books of Jeremiah and Lamentations.
So what is the Christian response to mourning? Avoidance? Certainly not. Dismissal, since Christians are always to be joyful? Uh, no. We should mourn properly – first as God mourns. God mourns over the lost condition of mankind. God mourns over thee pain of death. God mourns over hardness of heart. If God mourns over these things and more, so should we. However, God also provides a Comforter, the Holy Spirit, the One Who comes along side us in our grief. Furthermore, He gives us hope in the midst of our grief.
The Christian’s response to mourning? First, we don’t grieve as those who don’t know Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14) Second, we come along side those who are grieving with the same hope that we have receive. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) Third, we glorify God through our trust in Him when we face grief.
The difference between Christian grief and worldly grief is not the absence of tears but the presence of hope.
This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, July 26, 2026. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons, which covers Chapters 5-7 in the Book of Matthew, is Kingdom Power: The Sermon on the Mount. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/kingdom-power-matthew-5-7-digital-study-guide/ . Handouts with class presentation content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .
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