Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the LORD, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”
– Jeremiah 46:28

Grief has a way of shaking everything. When something is lost – like a person, a relationship, or a sense of normal – fear usually isn’t far behind. We start asking questions we don’t always say out loud, such as “Where is God right now? Did I do something wrong? Why does this hurt so much?”

The people of Israel knew that kind of grief. Jeremiah speaks to them during a time of exile, when they had lost their homes and their sense of safety. God doesn’t pretend things are fine or excuse their sin. He says clearly that there are consequences. But He also says something that stands out: “Do not be afraid… I am with you.”

That promise matters because grief can make us think God is far away or disappointed in us. Lent reminds us that the Christian life includes both Law and Gospel. The Law shows us our sin, weakness, and how broken this world really is. It takes away the idea that we can fix everything ourselves. But the Gospel tells us that God has not turned away from us.

In Jesus, God steps into grief instead of staying distant. Christ suffers, is rejected, and dies on the cross. He knows sorrow firsthand. Because of His death and resurrection, God’s promise to be with His people still stands, even in pain and loss. Grief does not mean we have been abandoned.

During Lent, we don’t need to hide our grief or rush ahead to Easter. We are called to hold on to what God has promised in His Word and Sacraments. The same God who disciplines also restores, and the same God who says, “I am with you,” keeps that promise.

Prayer: Lord, when grief brings fear and doubt, help us trust Your promise to be with us. Keep us grounded in Christ and Your mercy.

Daily Reading: Matthew 10

– Contributed by Tessa Hall