“Grief is the price we pay for love.”
Queen Elizabeth II
I believe I can grieve over many things. Death. Wayward Children. Lost Children. Lost Dreams, Hopes. On and on the list can go… Anything, anyone I have held dear to me and lost, I will grieve over to some extent. For a little while, for a long while, for the rest of my life.
I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope.
Psalm 130:5
My sadness or grief does not equate lack of faith.
So, in faith, what do I do with this thing called grief? In the process of this thing that would possess my whole living, (or lack of living) if I give it space to, how DO I carry on. How do I dare live my life to the full? How dare I even smile? Laugh? Allow myself to be happy?
I believe it is possible to grieve and still be happy and live in joy at the same time. Just like the waves of grief will sweep over me, so will the waves of joy, the times of laughter and peace. My true joy and happiness comes from the LORD, the Giver of only good things.
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2
I don’t know so many things. I don’t know why… I don’t know how… I don’t know when… I don’t know if..
But these things I do know…
When I don’t know what to do, I go to the Throne of Grace.
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
When I don’t know how I can go on, the Lord MY God is with me…
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Deuteronomy 31:6
“ He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” Isaiah 40:29
“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion
forever.” Psalm 73:26
When my faith is weak, He reminds me He doesn’t leave things unfinished…
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6
When the weight of it all breaks my heart, He is near…
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:18
When I don’t know how or what to pray, The Holy Spirit takes over for me…
“ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26,27
When I try to make sense of it all, He reminds me I don’t have to…
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
No, I don’t have the answer, friend. The sadness, the sorrow, all the questions, all the waiting… I just don’t know the answers. All my hope is in the Lord and in the promises of His Word.
There is power in the Word of God. It is life to me. It is air to me. It is everything.
He is everything.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Ephesians 6:10
Godspeed Friend,
Donna
I’ve included some recourses for you below, should you also be in the midst of grieving…
https://proverbs31.org/search?q=grief&idx=P31Content&p=0&dFR%5BTags%5D%5B0%5D=Grief
Of Good Things 