By Tope Banso
In life, we sometimes experience some painful things whether in relationships, businesses, careers, ministries, or in other areas. Sometimes, we are at fault, and other times other people or factors are responsible.
When some of these events occur, many are heartbroken and life becomes unexciting for them. This happens particularly when it has to do with the loved ones or things that are precious. The loss is always difficult to bear.
The Bible never forbids mourning. Jesus says in Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (New King James Version). Grieving is part of the healing process. What the Bible says about the death of believers is not to sorrow or grieve as others who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). We must learn how to process our sorrow or grief and not allow our losses to destroy us. We must know when mourning should stop and let God heal us. We must move on with our lives.
Whether it has to do with the loss of a loved one, a job, a marriage, or any other thing, we, as children of God, must walk with the understanding that God is bigger than our losses. Whatever losses we incur or experience, He is able to give us better things. Under no circumstance should we become hopeless, or see the losses as our end.
Sarah was the wife of Abraham for many years. Unfortunately, she died one day at 127 years. It was a great loss to Abraham. He mourned and wept. “Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, ‘I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight'” (Genesis 23:3-4 New King James Version).
It is normal to mourn the loss of someone or something precious and weep. But mourning and weeping should not be forever. One must bury one’s dead out of one’s sight, no matter how painful it is. It is part of the healing process. Abraham made a request to buy a parcel of land “that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” His request was granted. He paid for the land and buried Sarah there.
Who or what have you lost? After your mourning, go to bury your dead out of your sight. You need to be healed and the LORD to do a new thing in your life. “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19 New King James Version).
Abraham would not continue to mourn forever. He bought a burial place and buried Sarah there. Life must continue; he must put Sarah’s death behind him. Although he loved Sarah, after some time, he married another wife, Keturah, and she bore him children (Genesis 25:1-4).
Bury your dead out of your sight. This may mean putting behind you a broken relationship by refusing to think or talk about it, avoiding going to certain places to cut off from your dead past, and so on. Let the past go with the past. Bury your dead out of your sight. It’s not always easy, but it’s a wise thing to do.
There is a time to mourn and a time to stop mourning over your broken relationship, failed business, loss of job, etc. You must face your future with hope. Yes, you feel the pain, but there are things you cannot reverse. There are things only God can do. Only God can bring about the resurrection of the dead. If He hasn’t, then bury your dead out of your sight. Trust Him to work everything together for your good.
In 1 Samuel 16:1, the LORD told Samuel he had mourned enough for Saul whom He had rejected as king. Nevertheless, he was still on the throne. The LORD told Samuel to go and anoint another person as king. Apparently, Samuel was emotional about Saul, having anointed him the first king of Israel. The LORD had to tell him to stop mourning and go and anoint a new king. He should bury his dead out of his sight. Samuel obeyed and eventually anointed David as king (verse 13).
King David also had to bury his dead out of his sight with regard to his dead child, the child Bathsheba gave birth to from the adultery they committed. David prayed and fasted for the recovery of the child when he was sick. But as soon as his death was confirmed to him, he stopped mourning.
“So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate” (2 Samuel 12:20 New King James Version). His reaction baffled his servants. David buried his dead out of his sight. Don’t mind those who may think you have not mourned enough!
After Jacob was deceived that Joseph was dead, the Bible says, “Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, ‘For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.’ Thus his father wept for him” (Genesis 37:34-35 New King James Version). Your children won’t die prematurely in Jesus’ name. They won’t die before you.
Whatever you’ve lost, don’t mourn forever. Hand over your loss to the LORD. He can do a new thing for you. Eventually, it turned out that Joseph was still alive. He had not been killed by a wild animal as Joseph’s brothers made their father believe. Suppose Jacob had killed himself by his endless mourning!
Later, Jacob and the entire family were reunited with Joseph who had become the Prime Minister in Egypt. Only the LORD could have done that. Stop endless weeping, crying, lamenting and the rest. Trust God. Worship Him. Believe Him for new and better things.
After Judas Iscariot had committed suicide, the disciples of Jesus, following His ascension, chose another person to replace Judas in fulfilment of the Scriptures. They put his death behind them. They buried their dead out of their sight and filled the vacancy his death had created. Matthias replaced Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:15-26).
You cannot continue to mourn, weep, or lament. Bury that dead job, relationship, business, and so on out of your sight and experience the new things God has for you.
If you’re not born again, repent of your sins today and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Whoever comes to Him, He will by no means cast out.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, I repent of my endless, destructive mourning. I shall not mourn forever; I bury my dead out of my sight. Father, I hand over my loss to you and receive from You the new thing You want to do in my life. Father do a new thing for me in place of what I have lost. Father, maintain or guard my lot, all that is mine. This season, I shall suffer no loss of lives, property, or any other thing.
This is wisdom for living, and its worth sharing. Please share.
(For over 300 in-depth and powerful messages by T.O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
▪︎ Banso, an Abuja-based Minister, heads
Cedar Ministry International, and can be reached at cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com; on Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523; and
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947