³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 

Ephesians 4:30

Sometimes, as a parent, my children grieved me. Not so much anymore, but when they were younger, like in high school. When my son was a senior, I went to Arizona to attend my nephew’s wedding. It happened to be the weekend of senior prom. Friday afternoon – the prom was Saturday – I had an all important maternal conversation with my son. I asked some every pointed questions about his plans for Friday and Saturday and he promised me all would be well.

It was a few weeks later I discovered he had lied to me. No real harm had come from it, but I was grieved. It made me so sad that he lied to me – my trust was shaken. There were other kids involved, but I wasn’t grieved by their behavior — only by my son’s deception.

It seems to me that I – we – are grieved by situations/people that matter to us. If we are not vested in a person, the behavior and actions will not impact us in the same way. I was grieved because I love my son deeply. I want the best for him and this was not the best.

Scripture tells us that it is possible to grieve the Holy Spirit. Perhaps you are like me and have a distorted idea of why the Holy Spirit is grieved. After all, is it because I didn’t follow all the rules to the T? Did I do something wrong? Was I not enough?

Simply, the Holy Spirit is grieved because he loves me so much. He observes that I am making decisions that won’t bring about the best life for me, and it makes him sad. When I don’t move when he says move, or stay when he says stay, he is grieved. He knows that his leading is for my best, fullest life. He sees it; I don’t.

Perhaps it might help if you consider a situation that grieves you a great deal. What grieves you about it? Is it because you care so deeply? Imagine then for a moment that the Holy Spirit feels that strongly for you. He has a plan for your life and he wants you to prosper and enjoy every moment of it. When you don’t listen, when you go your own way — he is grieved.

Take a moment to pause and consider your ways. Ask the Holy Spirit if you have grieved him and then wait and see what he says. Restoration is worth the effort!