In my previous posts, I have written about the passing of my father and my journey with Jesus through grief. This is my latest entry into that collection. Maybe one day you will find these posts a source of comfort, too.
October 23 marked five years since the day my father went into cardiac arrest while driving us home from work. It was a moment that not only changed my life but also rerouted how my brain navigates grief, pain, and loss.
To be honest, I haven’t driven down the intersection of 4445 South and Redwood Road since that day. I lost my father in the middle of the road. My brain’s GPS has closed off that intersection to protect me from the pain that lives there. But, unfortunately, a place can’t confine grief. It moves and follows, as well as attaches.
No matter how many detours I take or streets that I avoid, grief still knows where I live. It’s not knocking down my front door anymore. But at the same time, it just lingers on the porch. An uninvited passenger who goes with me everywhere.
As much as I wish grief would let me be, I can also say that I am thankful. Over time, it has helped me to see (and remember) that when I feel overwhelmed and powerless, God is not.
His Great Power
“Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” — Jeremiah 32:17
This truth has held me steady through many storms. Without a doubt, the Lord is powerful enough to meet us in the places that we cannot face. And He is strong enough to walk with us in the spaces where it all feels too heavy.
As Believers, our great comfort is knowing that His presence is not limited to our final destination in Heaven. He is with us here and now. In the midst of every high and low, every peak and every valley. Equally important, He is with us in every moment when the road takes us somewhere we may never want to go.
In closing, I can assure you I won’t be driving down that street tomorrow. And I can guarantee you that grief will certainly sideswipe me again.
But my ability (or inability) to navigate these moments does not limit God’s unwavering love and care for me. Even in the places that I would rather avoid, God’s promise forever remains the same. For me and for you:
“Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” — Psalm 139:10
Grace to you,
Posted in A Word from the Pastor