Learning to Grieve

Learning to Grieve

A week ago, Brad and I were visiting with someone about a recent death in their family. He spoke about the importance of grieving, because only when we grieve can we find the comfort of God.

Though he wasn’t talking to me, I realized I was grieving. Again. Brad and I regularly talk about our challenges with my health, and we try to have open conversations and process our grief. But for some reason I’ve been grieving more intensely in the past few weeks. Perhaps it’s because we’re back to the daily grind after our very encouraging trip to North Carolina for our daughter Kelli’s wedding.

Regardless of why, I realized how sad I was. It seems too often I’m trying to pull a smile out of my pocket and slap it on my face, for that’s what a good Christian should do. Isn’t it?

No. I know I need to be honest with myself and others, “owning” my own circumstances and the accompanying grief. Until I do that, I won’t be able to find comfort from the Lord and his people.

So, in addition to Brad and I praying together for comfort, we decided that I would talk to a few others. I met with one dear sister in the church, shared my story with many tears, and found comfort from her.

And she spoke of Psalm 23, that even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, the Lord is with me. Always with me.
I’m still processing my grief. And I expect I will need to do that regularly until I meet the Lord in glory and am free from my broken body.

Is there any pain you haven’t grieved well? Is there someone who loves you deeply with whom you can talk? 2 Corinthians 1 speaks of the God of all comfort who comforts us in our sorrows. He longs to comfort us, and frequently that comfort comes from his saints who have been comforted themselves by him.