peace

When I hear the words, "Good Grief", it makes me think of a popular comic strip called "Peanuts"! If you know anything about the Peanuts gang, you might remember that many of the characters used the words, Good Grief". They especially related these words to one particular character named Charlie Brown. You might remember hearing this quoted often in the Peanuts comic strip..."Good Grief, Charlie Brown"! Charlie Brown is the main character of Peanuts. He is most noted for being meek, nervous, and lacking self-confidence. He was unable to fly a kite, win a baseball game or kick a football, to mention only a few of his most recognized failures. I always felt sorry for Charlie Brown and found myself wanting to help him succeed and overcome his times of grief, which in my opinion never seemed to be "good grief". To be honest, this comic strip was never one of my favorites because it seemed to be "the great American unsuccess story", although in the comic strip field Peanuts has been described as "the most shining example of the American success story.

I suppose Jesus could relate to my feelings about wanting to help those who are grieving. He knew some characters that were facing grief and basically he was telling them it was "good grief". Let's read about how he encouraged them in the following scriptures:

John 16:17-24; 33

The Disciples' Grief will turn to Joy

17 Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me: and 'Because I am going to the Father'? 18 They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying."
19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me'? 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete... 33 " I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus made it a point to say more than once, "I tell you the truth". He wanted more than anything for his disciples to believe that their grief would turn to joy. He did not say they would not grieve. He was not promising no pain, but he was promising them gain from their grief. The following is the best definition I have ever heard for joy: Joy is knowing you are going to receive something good from God, you don't know what it is, but you know it is good. So many people think that joy is a feeling, but I want to suggest to you that based on this definition it is not a feeling but a 'knowing'! Jesus wanted them to know that his going away would eventually be a good thing for them. He wanted them to know that their joy would be complete by his going away, not by his staying.

When a mother finds out she is pregnant she is filled with joy, most likely. Yet her joy is not complete until she suffers the pain of childbirth unfortunately. If the baby stayed in her womb forever she would never have the complete joy of knowing her own child. Looking back, I am sure the disciples would agree that it was a real joy to have Jesus with them on earth. Yet, the New Testament continues to testify even today of the joy that the disciples experienced after Jesus went to be with the Father. They learned that they could pray and ask for anything in Jesus name and receive it.

Too bad Charlie Brown did not know the value of praying in Jesus name. Perhaps then his grief would have been turned into joy too. Unfortunately for Charlie Brown he always seemed to be down and out. What about you, are you down and out about some things in your life? Have you learned the value of praying in Jesus name? Have you learned that your grief can be turned to joy? Jesus does not want you to be grieving all your life. He wants you to gain something good from your grief. I don't know what that good will be for you, and you most likely do not know what that good will be right now, but Jesus does!! During times of grief one of the things that seems to escape most of us is peace. Jesus wants to give you peace. How can you have that peace? By trusting that what he said to his disciples is just as true for you as it was for his disciples. He said, "You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy". Will you believe him? Will you ask him for your grief to be turned to joy? Will you ask him to encourage you, by showing you something good that is coming from your grief?

The character in Peanuts named Lucy Van Pelt sometimes referred to Charlie Brown as Charlie Brownish. She did this because she saw him as the most down and out person with no possible hope, no matter how she seemed to counsel him. Well maybe the real problem was not Charlie Brown but the person who was giving him counsel. I have to admit her advise was somewhat lacking most of the time.

Don't be like Charlie Brown and seek unwise counsel when you are facing grief. The last thing we need when we are grieving is for our grief to continue to get worse or never get better. When we trust Jesus and ask him for his counsel we can be assured that our grief will turn to joy. Good grief! What are we waiting for? Let's ask so we will receive...joy!! Take heart, Jesus has overcome the world!

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for promising me that my grief will turn to joy. I admit that I am grieving over some loses in my life right now. I don't want to be like Charlie Brown and seek unwise counsel, so I am asking you to show me how to find joy during this time of grief. I want my grief to be "good grief" and not all for naught. Jesus please give me peace in this time of grieving. Help me to get to the place of acceptance and see some good in this awful place of pain. If I am still denying what has happened to me help me to stop the denial. If I am still angry about what has caused me this grief help me let go of the anger. If I am bargaining with you to get out of this place of grief and pain, help me to stop the bargaining. If I am in the "brownish" of depression because of this grief, shine your loving light on my life and lift me out of this pit of darkness. I want to be able to overcome this place of grief and pain and know that something good will come out of it. I know that you are the only one that can bring me through this and get me to a place of acceptance. I am asking you now to turn my grief into joy. I trust that you will. In your name Jesus I ask this, Amen.

{ 0 comments }