Grief

 

Below is a devotional from my Grief Share devotionals which come to my e-mail  box each day. Since all of us experience grief in our lives at some point, may you be blessed and challenged by this devotional. dear Christian:

Embracing the Change in Your Life

Day 282

Grief will either make you a better person or it will cause you to harden your heart as you resist its lessons. You have the opportunity for unparalleled spiritual growth. This will not happen quickly, but you can grow deeply. By learning that life is a precious gift, you can do more than just exist; you can live on a higher plane.

It was when Isaiah’s friend died that he had a deeper experience of God.

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory’” (Isaiah 6:1-3).

Lord, I want to live above all the garbage that goes on in my mind. I want to grow spiritually and discover You like never before. Amen.

Because He Lives I can Face Tomorrow

 

 

Sometimes as believers we allow ourselves to get weighed down with worry and anxiety, but this is useless and unnecessary.  Because Christ lives, we as Christians can face tomorrow!  All fear can be gone, becaue we know He holds the future.  He not only holds our future, but He also hold our hands. Sometime before my late sister's death her husband and her sang the song, "Because He Lives" on YouTube.  That testimony of her faith is such a treasure to me.  It is encouragememt as well to my own faith walk.   Life is worth the living, just because He lives!

I will post a link to that song sung by them below.  May you be blessed by the  song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdAyn8xkGFQ&list=RDGMEMMib4QpREwENw3_jAc0YgNwVMGdAyn8xkGFQ&start_radio=1

  

Faith of a Child Expressed

 

(My first husband, Wayne, and four of the granddchildren many years ago and while they were young.)

Do we believe that God is good all the time?  I was looking at a Facebook memory recently that I had written 16 years ago.  That was written when I was still serving as a caregiver for my first husband, Wayne, at the time.  I was also involved at the time with helping my daughter-in-law once a week with the homeschooling of my granchildren.    It illustrates the faith of even a child.  My grandchildren are young adults now, but this memory has blessed and encouraged me throughout the years. 

This is what I wrote that day 16 years ago,"Today during home schooling "the girls sang a Scripture song which said that God has good plans for our lives. I asked them, " Is this true even when sad things happen?" They said, “Yes.” So I said, “What about Grandpa not being able to walk?” They had to think about this. Then Una said, “One good thing is that now that Grandpa can’t work, he can come to the Thursday night suppers at our house.”

*Recently due to the kindness of my daughtrer-in-law and my grandchildren, the tradition of Thursday night suppers was again revived!

Tragedy and The Wonderful Grace of Jesus

 

As humam beings we may have the concept that when people suffer a tragedy or they are experiencing some kind of suffering; they may have it coming to them-that they may somehow deserve it in a special way.  The truth is that we are ALL sinners worthy of condemnation and in need of repenting from our own sins.  We all deserve to be eternally punished for our sins.  We all deserve God's wrath.  

That is why, if we hear of any kind of tragedy in the world, our first response must be to repent from our own sins, and we then need to humbly fall on God's grace for forgiving our own sins. Our response should not only be one of repentance for our own sins but also one of compassion for others.  

This can happen only, if the Lord Jesus Himself is working in our lives.  It also only can happen by reflecting His desire to please Him being active in us.   In the early verses of the Gospel of Luke chapter 13 we learn those very truths.  

Let us rejoice in the wonderful grace of Jesus in forgiving our sins on the cross.  The link for the wonderful hymn, "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" is below.  Clink on the link below to listen to this time loved and wonderful hymn!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsPc-Ix3_ow&list=RDvsPc-Ix3_ow&start_radio=1

Praise God not only for God's grace but also for His deep love.  The link for that beautiful hymn is below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT7nBIt-QLk&list=RDxT7nBIt-QLk&start_radio=1

 

Lessons Learned Through Grief

  

I  have buried and grieved two husbands.  Wayne passed away in early 2011, and Bob passed away in November of  2024. I do not know why the Lord asked me to do this, but I know the Lord has been with me through it all.  I have grown in my love and dependence on the Lord through these experiences wirh grief.  Since most people have not remained untouched by grief of any kind, I am going to share one of my grief share devotionals this week.  I pray, Dear Christian, that you will benefit from it and be blessed by it:

Day 262

"There are some lessons in life that you only learn through times of grief or suffering. This is why it is important that you do not waste your sorrows. Times of suffering show you your limitations and how needy you really are.

Dr. Larry Crabb shares his initial reaction to the news of his brother’s death: “I came outside and I remember my wife was waiting for me out in the car, and as I came out, I just stood there and said, ‘Bill’s dead.’ It was just a very, very strong moment. But as I recall that moment, I think my first internal deep reaction was not despair. I think my first reaction at that moment was I must find God as I have never found Him before or I’m not going to make it.”

People are needy. The world wants you to be tough, strong, and independent. God wants you to lean on Him. God’s way is right and wise. Depend on Him as you have never done before, and you will find true peace and power that can never be achieved on your own.

“‘Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed,’ he said. ‘Peace! Be strong now; be strong.’ When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength’” (Daniel 10:19).

“Then he continued, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them’” (Daniel 10:12).

Holy God, I come humbly before You. I seek strength, understanding, and true knowledge of You. Show Yourself to me, O Lord. Amen."

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Grieving with Hope
This GriefShare-based book contains short, topical chapters addressing issues that grieving people face but are often hesitant to mention to others; it gently guides people to determine whether they’re grieving in a way that leads to hope and ultimate healing."