Finding God in the Midst of Grief
I was having a great day, I walked into Target and moseyed into the Dollar Section and 20 minutes later headed towards the rear of the store to contemplate my next purchase. It was then that I found myself in the baby section and for a moment, my heart dropped and my thoughts raced, thinking “Awwww! This could be for my baby girl!” (Well, if we had one at least).
My husband, I have been blessed with the wonderful opportunity to foster our nephew and he’s brought so much joy to our lives. While we don’t have any biological children, we do intend to one day. That being said, I began thinking about the women in my life that are unable to. Godly women, great women, I mean women that I admire for many things – leadership, their entrepreneurial spirit, how they handle their business and personal lives and doing it running 100 mph in stilettos. Women who may not be able to have a child because of infertility, their stage of life or for whatever reason. While I don’t know what it feels like to be in this situation I think about you often, I grieve with you, I pray for you, I share this heartache with you.
So what are we to do with grief and sorrow? Where is God in this all?
My faith is the foundation of my life, you may not know these truths but would you allow me to make an introduction?
First off, all of your affliction is meaningful.
Sometimes we suffer because we make mistakes, other times we suffer and it’s completely out of our control but every moment of affliction on the path of obedience in meaningful.
Your grief and pain have purpose! Yes, they have purpose, you can’t always see it all, you are only seeing 1 page of your story while God can see it all from the start of creation to the end. For the things that are seen are transient but the things that are unseen are eternal. You are being worked on, how have you responded to this trial?
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:6
Where is God in my grief? Let’s be honest, have you ever considered Him during your grief or have you been quick to blame? Either way, He does not hold grudges take this opportunity to….
Invite God into your grief
It’s easy, stop and invite Him into your life. Invite Him into your grief. Scripture says:
James 4:6 Draw near to God and He will come near to you.
Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Invite God into your grief through prayer
You don’t have to get fancy in your prayers or say a lot of words. On the contrary, God wants you to shoot straight, speak to Him like you would a friend.
1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us.
1 Chronicles 16:11 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
Invite God into your grief through worship
Worship is seeking God through our words and action with all that we have in spirit and in truth. John 4:23
Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
James 1:22 Be doers of the word, and not only hearers
Invite God into your grief through reading God’s Word
The Bible is alive, it’s rich in history, it’s incredible. The Bible is one of the way’s God speaks to us.
Hebrews 1: 1-3 “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven”
2nd Timothy 3:16 All scripture is God breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof for correction and for training in righteousness that the man of God (or woman) may be complete, equipped for every good work.
God is close to the brokenhearted, He is waiting for you.
