The God Who Weeps With Us: Finding the Deepest Comfort in the Shortest Verse

In the midst of the summer bustle—the road trips, the pool visits, the play dates—this month turned out to be shockingly heavy. My favorite holiday unleashed one of the worst natural disasters in recent Texas history. And while my days are spent eating snow cones, visiting splash pads, and prepping for a new school year, my nights have been spent in reflection and prayer, kissing my children an extra time before bed.

The devotional this month reflects where my heart has been, and I hope it encourages you too. However, if you are overwhelmed by the heaviness and need to skip straight to author updates, you may do so by clicking here.

Devotional:

“Lazarus is sick,” they said, but Jesus waited.

He didn’t rush to intervene. He didn’t speak healing from afar. He waited, even knowing what it would cost. And by the time he arrived, it was too late. Lazarus had died.

John 11:5-6 says Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazaraus, “so when he heard [Lazarus] was sick, he stayed two more days in the place where he was.” Instead of rushing to their side.

He loved them, so he stayed. It doesn’t make any sense. And it hurts.

He explains it in part to his disciples: “I’m glad for you that I wasn’t there so that you may believe.” (v. 15) Because he knew that a moment of pain was worth the eternal value of salvation, of glorifying God.

When he finally showed up, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. The house was filled with grief. Friends were mourning. The air was thick.

Then Jesus—fully God, all-knowing, all-powerful—wept.

He didn’t try to cheer everyone up or remind them to celebrate life. He didn’t explain his reasoning or comfort with logic. He knew how this story would end, but he didn’t reveal it yet.

No. Jesus—fully man, entering into their pain—wept.

He felt the sting of death.

And then... He overcome it.

Fully God, he conquered death and brought Lazarus to life.

What does that mean for today?

It means that when floodwaters sweep through a community and lives are lost and families shattered, that Jesus weeps with us.

It means that while the fullness of God welcomes so many home, the fullness of his heart for us understands and reaches into our grief.

It means that when C.S. Lewis described the Christ-figure Aslan in Narnia saying "Course he isn't safe. But he is good," that he may have been describing this exact paradox. That Christ didn't choose the safe route in healing Lazarus while he was sick, but he chose the good path in demonstrating his full power over death so that all may believe and have eternal life.

We may never understand his ways. Because he isn't safe in a small, comfortable way. But we can rest knowing that he is good. And he will work all things together for good (Romans 8:28).

We can trust that he draws near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18) and comforts those who mourn (Matthew 5:4). And he promises: death does not get the final word.

No, he doesn’t always stop the storm, but he will enter it with you. So when the news feels too heavy to hold, I invite you to join me in hanging on to this truth: the God who weeps is also the God who saves. He redeems the worst of situations in ways we cannot imagine.

Please join me in continuing to pray for the families impacted by the floods and the countless people who have helped search all month. May they be surrounded by peace, upheld in community, and comforted by Christ.

[Note: That Narnia excerpt is on my mind thanks to the recent release of Wild Love by Rend Collective. Listen here.]

Recent Reads:

Perhaps due to the nature of the news lately, I've struggled to get through my usual reading list. The reads I should be doing for other authors aren't happening. And the light, happy rom-coms I often enjoy aren't holding my interest right now.

I have, however, been thoroughly enjoying The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien.

I never read the series before (other than The Hobbit), but always enjoyed the movies. However, I have been absolutely captivated by the books. Tolkien's writing is utterly brilliant and thoroughly poetic. And watching his characters overcome their darkest moments is exactly the kind of read I need right now.

Author News:

If you need a read that tackles grief, loss, and healing, Before Grace is coming just in time. It's launching August 7 and I pray the honesty, the struggle, and the beauty in this book will be a blessing to those who need it. If you haven't yet, be sure to pre-order a copy now so you can get it ASAP.

And for my subscribers, I'm sending out a free ebook this month. Before We Begin is a prequel novella that tells Isaac and Katie's first-chance story before we get to their second chance in Before Grace. This is a lighter, more fun rom-com style read, though with a bittersweet ending.

If you are new here and want to grab a book but aren't sure where to begin, head over to the reader's guide which features a new matchmaking quiz to help you find the right Grace Church series book for you.

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Thank you ❤️

Thank you for allowing me to share my heart with you this month, and for your prayers for the Central Texas area. Praying for blessings and abundance over all that was lost.

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