Grief

Grief. 

A measly 5-letter word. 

What it lacks in length, it holds in weight. 

Grief is in the memories from long ago … 

Grief is in the waiting. 

Grief is in the right now. 

Grief is in the still-to-come. 

The loss of a friend … 

… a classmate …

… a grandmother …

… an uncle … 

… a co-worker … 

… a brother and son … 

… an unborn baby … 

… a father and husband … 

… a wife and mother … 

… a child. 

Grief spares no one. 

Grief reminds us that this is not the way things are supposed to be. 

Grief has a way of making our knees weak, our hearts heavy, and our arms feel empty. 

If this were simply the end of the road, a life well lived and then lost, we might very well pull up the blankets and never leave the bed again. 

But God, in His great mercy, assures us that … 

He is in the memories from long ago … 

He is in the waiting …

He is in the right now …

He is in the still-to-come. 

The gift of a friend … 

… a classmate …

… a grandmother …

… an uncle … 

… a co-worker … 

… a brother and son … 

… an unborn baby … 

… a father and husband … 

… a wife and mother … 

… a child.

God spares no good gift for those whom He loves.

God tells us that this isn’t the way things are supposed to be and one day, He will make things right. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:4) 

God has the power to make our knees strong, our hearts light, and raise up our arms in praise. 

This is not the end of the road, a life well lived and then lost, because Christ has come and taken the penalty of sin upon Himself, so that WE who believe are declared righteous before the Father and we WILL live with Him and enjoy Him forever. 

Grief is heavy, burdensome, painstaking, all-encompassing. 

God is present, active, holding, supporting. 

Grief grips us. 

God grips tighter. 

Grief leaves us breathless, unsure how to take another step forward. 

God, Himself, breathes us into existence, giving us the breath of life (Gen. 2: 7) and He determines our days before we even come to be (Psalm 139:16). We take steps forward knowing that as we take another step forward through the deepest valley, we need not fear because He is with us and He comforts us (Psalm 23:4). 

Grief says, “You can’t do this. It’s too hard.” 

God says, “I am with you. Nothing is too hard for me.” (Jeremiah 32:17).