Not A Weakness

“She died at Kiriath-arba (now called Hebron) in the land of Canaan. There Abraham mourned and wept for her.” - Genesis 23:2 
 
 
Over the next few days, we are going to look at the ways in which we can see “good” in our moments of grief. We know by now, grieving sucks. It comes in moments where real pain sets in, and it does not go away quickly. However, God still wants us to see the good that can come from grief.  
 
But in order to discover something good in grief, you must first realize that grief is not a sign of weakness. See, there is something to be said about the fact that Abraham as the father of faith is portrayed in Genesis 23 grieving. Contemporary interpretations of faith and manhood suggest that a man of faith should always be up, never down. 
 
But in Genesis 23, we see Abraham grieve, which suggests that grief is not a sign of weakness. When Abraham grieves Sarah’s death, he is merely expressing his sorrow in a healthy way, and it is a sign that he possesses compassion and God’s love. Rather than holding his emotions in because they are a threat to his masculinity or spirituality, Abraham expresses his sorrow, which for me is a sign of strength.  
 
There is nothing wrong with him. There is no need to pathologize his mental state or question the depth of his faith. He is experiencing legitimate pain and is openly and honestly expressing it in a healthy way. I’m struck that the text says he both mourns and he weeps. Verse 2 says, “she died at Kiriath-arba (now called Hebron) in the land of Canaan. There Abraham mourned and wept for her.” 
 
Are you grieving right now? Are you dealing with something difficult in your life and feel like you have to keep the emotions to yourself? Maybe you consider yourself the “glue” of your family, friend group, or office. No matter the situation you are in, God wants you to know you are free to grieve. You are free to express your emotions. 
 
 Grieving is not a weakness. It wasn’t for Abraham, and it is not for you!