Grief is one aspect of life that knocks us for a loop, and we may get off course, and lost for a while in unfamiliar thoughts and feelings. Our soul numbs from shock and possibly even denial. However, when we lose our way, our Father God promises to lead us along the unexperienced paths and ways that we do not know (Isaiah 42:16).
He is our merciful Father and the source of all our deep comfort and assurance. Then when others walk this same path of grief, we can turn to them and offer them the same comfort that God gave us during all our troubles (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
We often expectantly hope that our loved one will come back to us, even when we experienced the signed divorce papers or the death certificate. When the reality hits us, that this loss is permanent, our mind disconnects from our feelings, and we get busy filling our days and nights with distracting activities.
Our body and soul are attempting to prevent us from going into a deep depression. Sometimes, we take shallow breaths, and our nerves cause our body to shake for no real reason. When we face the reality of the finality of our separation, we may start having dreams or even nightmares. This too is our soul’s attempt to deal with the heartache we feel.
We process our grieving thoughts and feelings as we sleep. This enables us to make better decisions about our future. We cannot rush grief. Waiting on the Lord enables us to enter His rest through this time. God never leaves us and has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11). Professionals suggest that we make no major decisions at this time because they may adversely affect our life now and in the future.
Our grief hits us at unexpected times, and we cycle through the stages of grief over and over as we begin to heal. When our soul finally accepts this new chapter in our life, we realize that God still has plans for us, and He will give us His blessings and guidance as we spend time in His presence within us (Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 30:11).
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for planting us into a church family so that during times of grief they can help us to carry our load (Luke 22:31-24; 1 Corinthians 12:12; Romans 12:4-5). We may sever our time in ministries in which we usually serve until we gain the physical, mental, and emotional strength to resume them, but You give us this time to heal. Remind us that tears wash away our grief, and we can allow our self to cry when a memory or comment trigger our emotions. Thank You for teaching me to journal during the hardships I experienced in my lifetime.
Help others to enjoy the freedom as well. Deliverance from negative emotions and the clarity for us of our deep-seeded emotions that journaling brings. You are the source of our ultimate healing, and our strength to accept our loss when we bring everything to You in prayer (Romans 8:28-29). Our trust in Your trustworthiness gives us hope, peace, and joy that do not depend on our circumstances (Psalm 28:7; Nehemiah 8:10). We love you with our whole heart, and we have faith in You to reveal to us the unseen reasons behind our loss in Your timing and way.
Thoughts for the Day:
Rebounding into another relationship after a heart-rending loss is a real temptation; however, as we look to our growing intimate union with God as our source of affection, comfort, companionship, and fulfillment, we can escape the effects of negative choices and live in the center of God’s will for us instead. This also allows us to wait on Him for His desires and plans for our future.
