A wonderful Christian person sent me an email some time ago. He expressed what all evangelical Christians believe, yet somehow he could not get his life wrapped around the truth he wrote about. His son was suddenly taken from him and his heart broke.

“Gordon”, my friend said, “ I know God’s grace is sufficient but I’d rather not need God’s grace.” Was my friend sinning in making such a statement? Was he wrong in wishing that things were such that he would not need the grace of God to endure?

I cannot judge the man for his desire to have his son back rather than knowing God’s grace to help him endure the loss of his son. Jesus wept in the presence of death (John 11) and so may we. When I read the story of our Lord raising Lazarus in my Greek New Testament I see that the situation made our Lord angry.

Disease, accidents—and other ways our loved ones depart from us—confronts us with this enemy called death and we rightly oppose it. Death is a thief who steals our loved ones from us, never to return them until we also die and enter the Lord’s (and our loved one’s) presence in heaven.

Perhaps today you are in the situation my friend faced some time ago. As a believer in the Son of God you understand with your head that God’s grace is sufficient to meet your most critical problems but you wish you did not have a need for God’s grace. Possibly, like Jesus when He stood in the presence of death, you feel anger rising in your heart.

Do not think you must be sinning because of your anger. You may find yourself surrounded by people like Job’s comforters who unwisely speak to you when they should simply weep at your pain and grief.

Turn to the Saviour Who truly understands your struggle, because He had the same painful thoughts on various occasions and He really does feel your frustration and grief.

Hebrews 4: 15 NIV reads, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”

Run into His strong arms, flee from the problem into His calm and powerful presence. There you may weep and be understood. There you may be angry at the results of sin and you will be assured He remembers His anger and grief. Somehow, I do not know how, He will gently lead you through the difficulty and darkness into His marvelous light.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 NIV