And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Ephesians 4:30

When we think of the word grieve, most of us relate it to the pain experienced when someone we love has passed from this life to the next. The word expresses the pain and sadness we endure during a difficult time, but in most instances, through the passage of time, we miss our loved ones but the pain of the loss is at least not as intense as it once was.

In my younger years, I read today’s passage from Ephesians many times, but I’m not sure I really understood his meaning of grieving the Holy Spirit until I was well into adulthood. As I’ve grown older, I have observed the grieving heart of a parent for their child who has gone his/her own way and caused problems for themselves and others around them while they are often oblivious. It’s a deeper sadness to observe.

Likewise, in the passage above, I think the word grieve carries a deeper meaning because the deep sorrow is caused by our rebellion, our refusal to submit our lives to Christ by going our own way and it is a grief that continues if the rebellion is not repented of.

Yet they rebelled
    and grieved his Holy Spirit.
So he turned and became their enemy
    and he himself fought against them.

Isaiah 63:10

The Holy Spirit only wants the best for us and that trickles down and around to the others around us when are obedient instead of rebellious.

For those of us who have experienced this kind of grief, let us make sure we respond in obedience to God’s call on our lives.