What was your favorite Bible verse to memorize as a child, especially for Bible memory contests? Was it John 11:35: “Jesus wept”? I know it was mine because of its brevity, but this morning, as I was praying, “Jesus wept” came to me in a profound way, and it kept going and going, no longer being two words.

“Jesus wept.” He grieved. He cried. The Son of God grieved.

Jesus’ friend Lazarus had died, and Jesus was witnessing the grief of Lazarus’ sister Mary “and the Jews who came with” her to meet Him (v. 33), and He wept.

Another time He wept over Jerusalem and the destruction that was coming because of their rejection of Him (Luke 19:41-44 NKJV). He knew both times the good that would eventually come, but He still grieved.

I sometimes feel that in the light of the promises I’ve received and knowing God keeps His Word and His words always, I should have no reason to grieve, but I do grieve. I believe Jesus’ grief shows us it is okay.

There are others in the Bible who still grieved even while knowing God and His help. The sons of Korah expressed grief: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God” (Psalm 42:11).

I feel there is direction in this verse for us. It’s not a sin to grieve—if it was, Jesus wouldn’t have—but we grieve with hope in God, knowing we have His attention and will be helped by Him!

Let’s take a closer look at when Jesus wept. Knowing what He would do, that He would raise Lazarus from the dead and he would live again, He still wept, but then He went about the Father’s business:

• He went to the tomb (v. 38).
• He told them to prepare the tomb for a miracle (v. 39).
• He reminded Mary of His promise to her (v. 40).
• He prayed so the others could hear Him (v. 41).
• He raised Lazarus (v. 43).
• He gave instructions to those around Him regarding Lazarus (v. 44).

There may be a pattern here for us to follow:

• Go where God tells us.
• Prepare for a miracle.
• Remind ourselves and others of the promises.
• Pray.
• Fulfill our commission.
• Help others around us know what to do.

We feel we’ve lost so much. We grieve loss of Christian fellowship with our prodigals, loss of family, loss of time, the results of their bad decisions, their separation from God, the absence of a relationship between them and Him day to day. Yes, we feel we’ve lost so much, but we can grieve and then remember and rely on Isaiah 61:7, where it says we will receive “double honor.” When we and our prodigals receive double honor, we will see we’ve also gained so much! We grieve, but we must allow the Holy Spirit to comfort us. It will be healing to our bodies, minds, relationships, and our relationship with God Himself.

Second Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us our God is the God of all comfort and always comforts us: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

And Jesus told us: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). There is comfort in God’s words, and the Holy Spirit comforts us by reminding us of those words and teaching us what we don’t know, inspiring understanding, pointing out passages that apply, and reminding us of applicable promises that we’ve kept close throughout this journey.

The Holy Spirit will comfort us and magnify His fruit in our lives, including joy and peace, and also longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, and faith! (Galatians 5:22). Don’t we need those things magnified during the grieving process.

Our heavenly Father will work in us during the grieving, helping us to function, helping us “to live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28), and He will heal us. He will work through the grief by bringing the good He promised to bring through “all things” (Romans 8:28), and when His Word says “all things,” we know He means all things, including grief.

One more way I believe He comforts us when we grieve is by bring others along in our journey that we can trust to keep confidence and not judge us, but will pray for us, comfort us, support us, and guide us.

Remember, “Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, and “we through the … comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).