Key Scripture:
Ecclesiastes 3:7a A time to tear and a time to mend.

Devotional:
There are times in scripture where extreme grief is noted by the tearing of garments. Reuben tears his robes when he discovers his baby brother Joseph has been sold as a slave (Genesis 37:29). Job tears his upon hearing of his children’s deaths (Job 1:18-20). David and all his men tear their clothes at news of Saul and Johnathan’s death (2 Samuel 1:11-12). Barnabas and Paul tear theirs in response to the worship of false gods over the one true God (Acts 14:14-15)

In this verse of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon is reminding us that, as believers, we will endure hard times. There may be some of you who suffered the loss of a loved one or have been through a divorce. During that time, it feels like something has been ripped away from us. There is a loss that we need to grieve. The Bible never shies away from this, and neither should we.

This verse brings me back to the day we had to tell our kids that our dog of 15 years was sick and would not make it. Bear was a part of our family, and everyone was heartbroken to lose him. Our kids didn’t know a house without Bear in it. We got him right after Bret and I got married. He was our “first baby”. Walking through the grief of that loss ourselves while our kids were also grieving taught us that it is ok to let your kids see you sad and upset. We found out that they will learn what it looks like to grieve from your example. They will also see through you how your heart is mended by the Lord. Now our family looks back at our time with Bear and smile at all the memories that were made.

Teaching our kids what it looks like to walk in the grief and loss of this world is crucial as they become adults and endure suffering of their own. Oftentimes, my instinct is to try to shelter my kids from the hard or the painful, but we know from scripture that it is ok to grieve. 

Matthew 27:51 shows us how the temple veil was torn from top to bottom when Christ died on the Cross. There was a tearing that had to happen first before the mending of us back to our Heavenly Father could be made possible. 

Be reminded us that there is a time for sadness and tears, and there is a time for the mending, God uses both things to draw us closer to Himself.

Questions for reflection:

• Who is someone in your life that you lean on when troubles come?
• What is something you need to bring to God and let Him mend?