Many things happen in our life to bring us grief.
Loss of a loved one.
Loss of a pet.
Loss of a relationship.
Loss of hope.
Grief presents itself in many ways. But it feels the same. Its a pain in your chest, a knot in your stomach, a sadness in our eyes, a light that has gone out in our soul.
2 Cor. 12:9 states “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
At some point in everyone's life, we experience grief. I'm on the cusp of it myself. Tomorrow afternoon I will have to put my beloved Sandy girl, my Corgi of 14 years, into my car and take her to end her life. How will I be able to do that? How can I put her in my car knowing it will be the last time?? I've been crying today, and I know tomorrow I will be a mess emotionally. The grief has already started for me and it will get worse before it gets better. So, as I grieved this morning, I was reminded of the verse in 2 Corinthians. God's grace is sufficient for me in WHATEVER I'm going through. Whether its the loss of a pet, or the loss of a family member. Nothing will keep him from me.
Whats on the other side of grief? HOPE.
Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and nurtured, and something that will refresh us in return. And it can be found in each of us, and it can bring light into the darkest of places.
God shares his hope and his love with us through the people in our lives who touch us. A kind word. A loving hug. A word of encouragement. Even someone who lets you cry and is just there for you.
I have hope. I know that brighter days are ahead. I know that peace that passes all understanding will envelope my heart. It may take some time, but it will come. And with hope new life springs forth. Like a flower pushing through the earth to reach the sunlight, so shall my hope push through to shine bright again.
God is so good to us, even in our grief. He knows how we feel because he experienced it. He watched His Son die a brutal death so that we could live. He shed a tear and the earth trembled. And Hope Rose Again!
So, if you are experiencing grief remember God is there. He knows what you are going through and he understands. But Hope comes with the morning. Be patient. He will never leave you or forsake you.
