Have you ever noticed that life rarely gives us one emotion at a time? One moment we’re smiling at a sweet memory, and the next, tears fill our eyes. Grief and joy seem like opposites, but in the kingdom of God, they often sit right next to each other.
Lately, I’ve been reminded that following Jesus doesn’t mean avoiding hard emotions. It means inviting Him into them. Scripture tells us that we can be “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). That verse used to confuse me—how can we do both? But the longer I walk with Jesus, the more I see how beautifully true it is.
Grief shows up because we’ve loved deeply. It comes when something meaningful changes, ends, or breaks. Rejoicing shows up because God is still good in every season. It doesn’t erase the sorrow, but it shines through it like sunlight through clouds.
During this fun and exciting engagement season, I’m overflowing with joy as I celebrate finding a beautiful love here on earth. I’m dreaming, planning, and experiencing so many things I’ve always hoped for. And yet, at the very same time, I’m also grieving. There’s a quiet sadness in knowing I’ll be letting go of my last name and that I won’t be coming home to my parents’ house in the same way anymore. This season is so full of goodness, so much to rejoice in, and still, there’s a tender ache woven into it. And that’s okay. It’s possible to hold both joy and sorrow at once.
If you’re holding both today, sorrow and celebration you’re not doing it wrong. You’re being human. You’re living in the tension of a world that is broken and a God who is redeeming every piece of it.
Take the pressure off yourself to “pick one.” Let yourself grieve. Let yourself rejoice. Let Jesus hold both with you!
