the story isn't over yet.

You are good, Lord. The Lord is good and right. — Psalm 25:7-8 NCV Jesus' Tears Give You Permission to Shed Your Own by Max Lucado, from Hope Martha sat in a damp world, cloudy, tearful. And Jesus sat in it with her.   I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. — John 11:25 NLT   Hear those words in a Superman tone, if you like. Clark Kent descending from nowhere, ripping shirt and popping buttons to reveal the S beneath. "I AM the Resurrection and the Life!!!" Do you see a Savior with Terminator tenderness bypassing the tears of Martha and Mary and, in doing so, telling them and all grievers to buck up and trust?   I don't. I don't because of what Jesus does next.   He weeps.   He sits on the pew between Mary and Martha, puts an arm around each, and sobs. Among the three, a tsunami of sorrow is stirred; a monsoon of tears is released. Tears that reduce to streaks the watercolor conceptions of a cavalier Christ. Jesus weeps.   He weeps with them. He weeps for them. He weeps with you. He weeps for you.   He weeps so we will know: Mourning is not disbelieving.   Flooded eyes don't represent a faithless heart. A person can enter a cemetery Jesus-certain of life after death and still have a Twin Tower crater in the heart. Christ did. He wept, and He knew He was ten minutes from seeing a living Lazarus!   And His tears give you permission to shed your own. Grief does not mean you don't trust; it simply means you can't stand the thought of another day without the Jacob or Lazarus of your life. If Jesus gave the love, He understands the tears. So grieve, but don't grieve like those who don't know the rest of this story.   — Next Door Savior   Carlos Andres Baisdon-Niño lay down with his favorite Bible storybook. He began with the first chapter and turned every page until the end. When he finished, he blew his good-night kisses to Mami and Papi, to his three niñas, and then, as always, he blew one to Papa Dios. He closed his eyes, drifted off to sleep, and awoke in heaven.   Carlos was three years old.   When Tim and Betsa, his parents, and I met to plan the funeral, they wanted me to watch a video of Carlos. "You've got to see him dancing," Tim told me. One look and I could see why. What little Carlos did to the rhythm of a Latin song can't be described with words. He shook from top to bottom.   His feet moved, his hands bounced, his head swayed. You got the impression that his heart rate had switched over to his native Colombian beat.   We laughed, the three of us did. And in the laughter, for just a moment, Carlos was with us. For just a moment there was no leukemia, syringes, blankets, or chemotherapy. There was no stone to carve or grave to dig. There was just Carlos. And Carlos was just dancing.   But then the video stopped, and so did the laughter. And this mom and dad resumed their slow walk through the valley of the shadow of death.   Are you passing through the same shadow? Is this book being held by the same hands that touched the cold face of a friend? And the eyes that fall upon this page, have they also fallen upon the breathless figure of a husband, wife, or child? Are you passing through the valley? If not, [these thoughts] may seem unnecessary. Feel free to move on — [they] will be here when you need [them].   If so, however, you know that the black bag of sorrow is hard to bear.   It's hard to bear because not everyone understands your grief. They did at first. They did at the funeral. They did at the graveside. But they don't now; they don't understand.   Grief lingers.   As silently as a cloud slides between you and the afternoon sun, memories drift between you and joy, leaving you in a chilly shadow. No warning. No notice. Just a whiff of the cologne he wore or a verse of the song she loved, and you are saying good-bye all over again.   Why won't the sorrow leave you alone?   Because you buried more than a person. You buried some of yourself. Wasn't it John Donne who said, "Any man's death diminishes me"? It's as if the human race resides on a huge trampoline. The movements of one can be felt by all. And the closer the relationship, the more profound the exit.   When someone you love dies, it affects you…   Why does grief linger? Because you are dealing with more than memories — you are dealing with unlived tomorrows.   You're not just battling sorrow — you're battling disappointment. You're also battling anger.   It may be on the surface. It may be subterranean. It may be a flame. It may be a blowtorch. But anger lives in sorrow's house. Anger at self. Anger at life. Anger at the military or the hospital or the highway system. But most of all, anger at God. Anger that takes the form of the three-letter question — why? Why him? Why her? Why now? Why us?   You and I both know I can't answer that question. Only God knows the reasons behind His actions. But here is a key truth on which we can stand.   Our God is a good God.   You are good, Lord. The Lord is good and right. — Psalm 25:7-8 NCV   Taste and see that the Lord is good. — Psalm 34:8 NIV   God is a good God. We must begin here. Though we don't understand His actions, we can trust His heart.   — Traveling Light Excerpted with permission from Hope (selections from Max Lucado's writings) by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado. Your Turn   If you're in the depths of loss and grief today, those words are for you — God is good. You can trust His heart. The story isn't over yet. Come share your thoughts on grief with us today on our blog. We would love to hear your story. COMMENT Share this devotion with someone who needs it today. Don't Miss This Deal   Save over 50% off (sale ends tomorrow 5/9/2021)   Before Amen by Max Lucado   We all pray. . . some. But wouldn't we like to pray better? Stronger? With more fire, faith and fervency? Paperback, Regular: $18.99 Sale Price: $7.99 (58% off) *Sale ends May 9, 2021 + free U.S. shipping* on orders $30 or more SHOP NOW We aren't the first to struggle with prayer. The first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance too. In fact, prayer is the only tutorial they ever requested. In Before Amen, New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado helps readers discover the very heart of biblical prayer, offering hope for doubters and confidence for both prayer beginners and experts.   In this book, Max will help you: Distill prayers in the Bible down to one pocket-sized prayer. Remember that the Good Shepherd has authority over your life. Learn that prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child.   Don't be bogged down by crafting elegant words or apologizing for incoherent sentences. Climb into God's lap and tell him everything on your heart. Today is the day to let the conversation begin. What People Are Saying "This book helped answer a bunch of questions that I had about prayer and praying." — Sarah, reader   "No fluff here. His real life stories and examples resonated with me as I could relate to them in my own prayer life." — Wilfried, reader   "This book makes prayer feel so simple." — Sandra, reader   Learn More and Save  Save on the companion prayer journal   Get for just $7.99   A Prayer Journal by Max Lucado Hardcover, Regular: $13.99 Sale Price: $7.99 *Sale ends May 9, 2021 + free U.S. shipping* on orders $30 or more SHOP NOW + Save on the companion study materials today! SHOP THE FULL COLLECTION   *Sale prices valid through 05/09/2021, ending at 11:59pm EST, excluding eBooks and audiobooks.  eBooks and audiobook purchases are fulfilled by our partner, Glose.  Free U.S. shipping on orders over $30 valid, excluding Alaska and Hawaii

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