“Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ’My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?’” — Matthew 27:46
Jesus, God’s most beloved, knew about glory and power, and love. He also knew great sorrow. And He didn’t run from it, gloss over it, or pretend that sadness and distress weren’t present in His life. He wept over Lazarus. He cried over Jerusalem. And on the cross, He cried the ancient cry of the psalmist as He poured out the words that came from His broken heart. “My God! Why have You forsaken Me?”
I am all for praising God. I believe in the power of praise and worship. But I also know there are times when God knows we need to grieve and be honest about our sorrow. Jesus on the cross didn’t cry out, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Victory is mine!” or any such thing. He cried in agony and flung His pain and heartache out to His Father.
Will there be victory? Will there be healing? Yes. God promises it. Here and in the hereafter. There is a resurrection after the crucifixion. But in the meantime, it is no sin to honestly hurt and grieve. In fact, it is a sin not to.
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” —Revelation 21:4
