Grief and God? How do they mix?
We often pray for healing, for a way out, a new situation to come, or for God to take it away, right? Whose been there with me? I have often felt that my prayers went unanswered or the result wasn’t what I wanted. This resulted in a lack of praying for healing. Why you may ask? Back then I was stuck with the grief and overwhelming sadness that just didnt make sense. If I prayed so hard why did it happen this way?
I definitely feel like a bad Christian saying I don’t pray for healing anymore, but I feel like it’s a different type of healing. A healing for our hearts to be drawn closer to God in the midst of the sadness or the anticipation of losing a loved one, more of a healing to get through all of the stages of grief with a stronger and better relationship with Christ.
I’m trying to trust that this is a feeling of full surrender and acceptance. A full understanding of “not my will Lord but yours.” From 7-25 years old, I have now grieved 5 crucial people in my life with too many in between of watching friends and loved ones grieve as well. Each brought a chance to find God in a new way. I have found a deeper understanding of His peace and comfort with my broken heart. An ear to my screaming and crying on the floor. And a reminder that I’m only a human who was called to love, not save, that’s what Jesus is here for.
Grief is not an uncommon feeling for God. It’s not something we have to pray away or hope we never experience. It is a reminder of the love God has shared for us and the love we have given and received from someone else.
No matter what your grief is for, know that God is near to your broken heart (Psalms 34:18) and He bottles up every tear (Psalms 56:8). So don’t rush the grief. Surrender the control, and let God hold you. Let Him love on you so you overflow love onto others even in the middle of your grief. What if what’s breaking you is what God is wanting to use to put you back together? Sometimes our story can’t be transformed or be beautiful without the brokenness.
Rays of Sunshine inc 