Devotion - Rachel

Jeremiah 31:13-16
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.
Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamantation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
Thus saith the LORD: Refrain they voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.

Rachel, being the "mother" of the twelve tribes so to speak is a representation here I think of all Israel mourning her people in captivity. There is nothing wrong with mourning, there is a time for sorrow, but God wants to comfort us. We need to let God do the comforting. This was made real to me when my dad passed away. The comfort that I felt from the Lord was amazing. He is still comforting me. I am sure you have heard the term "let go and let God". That is what we need to do with our grief. So often, we take matters into our own hands and reach for worldly answers to comfort. Rachel herself did this, as she was desperately wanting children, by turning to her handmade to bear her children. What she did not know was that God had great blessings for her if she would just wait. God used her sons greatly. God will cause us to rejoice if we just hang on. This goes right along with the last devotion. Don't give up before the blessings come. You will end up wasting your trials. Make them worth while, hang on, rejoicing is coming.