Weekly Devotional
August 24 2026 Devotional
“Jesus wept.” - John 11:35 (ESV) When standing for the restoration of a broken marriage, you might begin to take on an unspoken expectation that you should not show any display of grief or sadness because it is a show of unbelief and a sign of a lack of faith. I know I battled these thoughts when I was standing for my marriage. There were times early on in my stand when I didn’t allow myself to be sad or grieve because I didn’t want to express any unbelief in the miracle I was believing in. I was wrong in this thinking; this is NOT how you stand supernaturally for your marriage. It is okay to grieve. Jesus did! You may feel pressured to put on a brave face, to act as if everything is fine and to suppress your emotions in the name of faith. But if we look closely at the life of Jesus, we find a different perspective, we discover an incredible lesson in the significance of allowing ourselves to grieve. The story of Lazarus provides a truly astonishing example. Lazarus, a dear friend of Jesus, had passed away. When Jesus arrived at the scene, Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, were overcome with grief. They expressed their sorrow and Jesus, deeply moved, wept. This moment is described in the shortest verse in the Bible: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Here is what’s so remarkable: Jesus knew He was about to perform a miracle. He was well aware that Lazarus would be raised from the dead. He had the power to change the situation, yet He still wept. Why? Because even in the face of assured victory, Jesus acknowledged the pain of loss. He allowed Himself to grieve with those who were hurting. He allowed himself to feel the pain of death even though He knew He had authority over it. Allow this to enlighten your thoughts with a profound lesson as you stand for the resurrection of your marriage. Jesus taught us that grieving is not a sign of unbelief; it’s a testament to our humanity. Jesus was fully God but also fully man. He showed us that it’s necessary to process the pain, disappointment and loss that engulfs broken relationships. Grief doesn’t cancel out faith. Rather, it’s just acknowledging the current pain of our situation. Just as Jesus grieved the death of Lazarus while fully intending to resurrect him, we can grieve the state of our marriage without forfeiting our belief in its restoration. It’s essential to understand that grieving doesn’t undermine your faith, it complements it. When facing the death of a marriage, it’s natural to experience a range of emotions like sadness, anger, confusion and despair. These emotions are part of the grieving process and they should be acknowledged and embraced. Allowing yourself to grieve doesn’t mean you lack faith or that you’re accepting defeat. It means you are allowing Jesus to come and enter your pain and brokenness. It’s in this place of vulnerability and authenticity that God can do a profound work of healing and restoration in our own hearts. It’s what we call in our Standing Supernaturally Academy “Standing With a Healed Heart.” Jesus, the One who wept at Lazarus’ tomb, is also the One who can heal your broken heart. He understands your pain and invites you to bring your grief to Him. In these moments of sorrow, find solace in the arms of your Savior. So, as you stand for the resurrection of your marriage, remember that it’s okay to grieve. Your tears are not a sign of weakness; they are a testimony to your humanity. Trust that Jesus, who conquered death, is more than capable of resurrecting what is dead in your life. Grief is not a denial of faith; it’s a stepping stone on the path to restoration. Embrace that pain and let the One who wept for His friend be the One who brings healing and resurrection to your marriage.
