Does God Grieve?

"The Bible is a book filled with grief" -N. H. Wright

Does God grieve? Scripture notes that each person of the Trinity expresses grief. But to ask this question, we must understand that God experiences the full range of emotions and expresses each without sin. We associate some feelings with power, like anger, and others, like sadness or grief, with weakness. So, if grieving seems weak, does God's grieving make grieving a strong emotion? Or is God's expression of grief a willingness to humble himself?

Just like in John 13:3-4, I believe Jesus could humble himself and serve his friends because he knew who he was. Likewise, God is comfortable humbling himself and taking the time to grieve and mourn.

Scripture notes that each person of the Trinity expresses grief. The Father grieved over evil in Noah's day (New King James Bible, 1982/2004; Genesis 6:6). The Son grieved over the death of his friend Lazarus (John 11:35-38) and the hardheartedness of the leaders of Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37). Jesus was described as a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering (Isaiah 53:1). The Spirit grieves over believer's sin (Ephesians 4:30). The Father, Son, and Spirit all express grief.

I find it incredibly comforting that the Father, Son, and Spirit have felt the impact of grief. They found comfort in the pain and extend comfort to their people (2 Corinthians 1:4-6). It would be troubling if the deity I looked to were unfeeling and unable to understand the depth of my emotions. That God humbled himself to have this human experience speaks deeply to his great love for us.

One more thought: Scripture tells us that Jesus's stepfather Joseph was with him in the story when Jesus was twelve. But Joseph was missing in the stories of Jesus's ministry. Tradition also tells us that Joseph died, leaving Jesus as the oldest male in his family. What must it have been like for Jesus to mourn his earthly father and to comfort his mother and siblings during this time? I am sure that Joseph was not the only death he saw in his pre-ministry life. Isaiah 53 notes he was a "Man of sorrow and acquainted with grief," who "carried our sorrows," making an offering so we could find peace. Jesus understands and will come alongside your journey of grief.

References

Wright, H. N. (2011). The complete guide to crisis and trauma counseling: What to do and say when it matters most! (updated & expanded). Bethany House.