The loss of a parent doesn’t just sting, it leaves you with an irreplaceable hole in your heart. It’s been two years since my loving daddy went home to be with Jesus, and the loss I feel is still unimaginable.
I know in my heart he’s in a better place that is absent of pain and distress. However, his physical presence and wisdom are so dearly missed here on this earth.
He left behind an army of a family who adored him and looked to him for solid guidance. No matter how hard I try to look to the bright side and what’s ahead, grief has been my unwelcome bedfellow during this hard journey.
Grief is a persistent emotion.
It sneaks in quietly when you least expect it: sitting in the sun, out on an evening walk, compiling a work assignment, rocking your kids to bed. Grief never announces itself—it floods in like an unhinged well, covering you in its wet, messy thoughts.
One moment you can be laughing with your kids playing race cars on the floor and the next slumped over in a heap of tears.
It’s easy to feel like you are alone in your sadness; yet, when you study the Bible, so many Biblical figures experienced intense grief.
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Ruth lost her husband and left everything to follow her mother-in-law to a land that was unknown to her.
David had to hide himself in the clefts of the rock when he was fleeing from King Saul.
Joseph was thrown in prison for adhering to moral integrity.
Jesus even wept in the scripture after being told of Lazarus’ death.
Human sadness can feel like the depths of despair, and it’s natural to feel grief in the crevices of our hearts.
Yet, God also promises to lift us from the mire. He is always faithful.
Ruth overcame her grief and followed God faithfully and met her Kinsman Redeemer.
David escaped King Saul’s wrath and went on to be crowned King of Israel.
Joseph became the second in command under Pharaoh and saved a nation from a drought.
Jesus displayed his mighty power in the midst of his tears and raised Lazarus from the dead.
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While it is perfectly normal to embrace grief and let this process heal us, we mustn’t live in this sorrow. God will lift us from the mighty clutches of grief and raise us up.
That’s a promise.
Psalm 30:5 notes, “Weeping may last for a night; but joy comes in the morning.”
Surround yourself with those who have experienced grief and let this process heal you not stifle you. The loved ones you are grieving wouldn’t want you to live life in the shackles of despondency.
While I will always miss my daddy and that hole in my heart will not be filled here in this life again, I can always look up to the one who made my heart and remember to say, “It is well with my soul.”
May we learn from grief and let it change us, but never let it inhibit us from walking forward in God’s light.