Grief has many faces.
Our first response, if asked, “what brings on grief?”many of us would respond with the answer ‘the death of a loved one or the loss of a friend.’ These answers most definitely cause the cycle of grief in one’s life, but did you know that grief can be caused by other situations or circumstances?
Other forms:
- Moving — it has been said that 3 close moves equal 1 death.
- Change — this form comes in many different scenarios.
- Rejection — by family, friends or self (lies, deceit)
- Sorrow — the grief so deep no words can describe.
- Loss — loss comes in different forms as well, not just death.
We have seen, gone through and have recently done through such heartaches, and I would like to share something the Lord has been teaching me through the pain and healing.
Remember in Grief:
G God is good! – even in your darkest hour. God is good because He is unchanging, therefore, His goodness never ceases. He is working for your best good; it is the truest display and most deepest act of love there is, for it never ends. The life you may know right now may not “feel” like it nor “seem” like it, but there is never a time when God cannot be faithful to you, cannot love you, cannot comfort you, for He always has your best interest in mind. Blessed are you who keep Him first and love Him with a pure whole heart. So, in the crash course of hardness, when you reach that beyond ability of difficulty or simply just can’t, or don’t understand – make that choice to believe in the goodness of the Lord in that land of the living, for He loves you beyond measure and has never left you—NEVER!
R Refresh yourself! – There is only one source, the Word of God that can and will refresh your soul. At first, in your time of grief, it may seem “unfulfilling” or you may find your mind not comprehending (this is normal) but be constant – keep to the Word of God for this is what your soul truly needs above all things! The Word of God is where you will find comfort, strength, healing, where you will find the ability to accomplish and endure anything that will come because God is with you—it is your life line. Make the choice to immerse your heart, your soul, your mind in the Word of God every hour if you have too. To choose Christ in your grief is a choose that you will never regret, it is a choice that is literally out of this world –but one that you must decide to choose. Trust His words for that is the only thing that is unchanging around you…He is unchangeable.
I I am not alone! –Isolation is deadly. This is key to remember, but please do not confuse the difference between isolation and solitude. We are desperately in need of daily personal time of “solitude” with God. This is a fact. This personal “solitude” time with God is a personal time to feast on His Word, to spend time on our knees personally before God, hiding God’s Word in our hearts, this is all good, this is not what we are talking about here.
Isolation is not solitude. Do not allow others to wall you off from the “rest of the world” nor allow yourself to be brought into the path of “seclusion”—this include: yourself, the family of God, destructive relationship companions, and from those who truly love you—this is not physically healthy to your body nor is it spiritually healing to your soul. Isolation kills! You are never, ever alone regardless of the why you may “feel.” Our Lord said to us, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” and that was a promise –and if you didn’t know, God never breaks His promises! God is unchangeable. He has never broken a promise, therefore, He is not going to start with you! We were not created to be isolationist.
E Equipped in Jesus Christ! –Upon the day of your salvation you were immediately indwelled by the Holy Spirit. He is alive and well within you—He is willing, eager, ready and waiting to be listened too. You are resourced, powered, equipped because of Christ in you! You are enabled, but the Father will not grow you against your will. You have to choose! Daily choose to live in the Spirit, tap into that source God has enabled you with, His strength, and hold on and don’t let go. Do not doubt. You are complete in Him!
F Future is coming! —Yes, it will come! Regardless of how you “feel” today, joy does come in the morning. Whatever holds today—how life around is perceived (remember, perception is not always right, including ours) or even the truest reality and intensity of life; remember who holds the future. God is God and we are not! God holds the future, God sees our whole life, we only see now. We have been given a life-mission. Our purpose is not without hope, not without direction, not without purpose. Our hope is founded, it is sure in Christ (when we know Him as Savior), thus firmly rooted in the unchangeable Great I AM! Submission is not our enemy, trusting the future-holder (God) is where life begins, trust is not a bad wrong when it is linked to God. When God is sitting on the throne of our life it relieves our man-made stress and worries of life—for He is in His rightful place and we in ours! Joy will come in the morning. Trust His voice.
My friend, remember G.R.I.E.F.
- Whatever your grief may be: perhaps the loss of a loved one (family or friend) or maybe it is finding yourself like Job where life’s circumstances aren’t looking so swell around you (by the way—major life events: like moving, change in job, etc. are included in one’s grief/sorrow/loss). G.R.I.E.F. is for everyone.
In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}
In Christ I am SHE 