The Daily Word: Monday, July 9th, 2018
1 Chronicles 7:1-8:40
Acts 27:1-20
Psalm 7:1-17
Proverbs 18:22
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him. And when he went in to his wife, she conceived and bore a son; and he called his name Beriah… – 1 Chron 7:22-23
Ephraim was heartbroken. The men of Gath killed his sons because they wanted to “take away their cattle” (v 21). This was a tragic loss of life for a petty material reason. So what did Ephraim do?
First, he mourned. Mourning is healthy. Mourning is good! As we mourn, we celebrate the impact someone has had on our life, after they are no longer with us. We thank God for the time we got to spend with them. We grapple with life’s big questions. Mourning is necessary for healing to take place.
But then, he moved on. Mourning that lasts too long turns into unhealthy grief. Whereas healthy mourning empowers us to move forward, unhealthy grief paralyzes us looking backwards. Ephraim went in to his wife, and they had another son. They recognized that, after they had taken time to mourn, it was important to move on.
Where have you experienced loss in your life? Did you give yourself time to mourn? And did you give yourself permission to move on?
Prayer:
Father, help me to grieve in healthy ways. Tell me when it’s time to mourn, and tell me when it’s time to move on! I want to move forward, stronger than ever, in Jesus’ name.
Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.