When I tragically lost my father five years ago, I began a journey through grief that I never would have chosen for myself. And every now and again, I’ve tried to write down some of the things the Lord has patiently taught me along the way. This is the next entry in my journal through the valley of grief.
Grief has a way of stripping life down to what is real.
It can reveal that the things you once leaned on can’t hold you. Also, it often forces you to come face-to-face with things you’ve done everything possible to avoid. Sometimes, it leaves you wrestling with realities you cannot change, explain, or escape. You become desperate to find relief. There must be something to make the aching stop. And when you find yourself there, you ask,
“What will help get me through this now?”
This is an honest question that Psalm 42 expresses well.
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God…” — Psalm 42:5
In this chapter, the psalmist himself is overwhelmed and downcast. He says out loud what so many of us have felt: “This hurts! This can’t be real! How do I keep going?”
Speak Truth To Yourself
Yet notice that in the middle of his troubles, he speaks truth to his own soul. He refuses to let his sorrow get the final say over his life. At the same time, he also calls his own heart back to what is true about God.
“My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you.” Psalm 42:6
I believe that is such a great example for us to follow. Especially in the seasons of life that feel unbearable. Grief, fear, and sadness are very loud voices. Given that, if you’re not careful, they can quickly become the LOUDEST voices you hear.
So, at some point, we must stop listening to ourselves. Instead, we need to preach to ourselves. I believe the psalmist shows us that when he says, “therefore I remember you.”
He Is Truth
When grief has me in the corner, I’ve found it helpful to speak these truths to my own soul.
- God is still good, even right now.
- God is still sovereign, even here.
- God is still near to the brokenhearted.
- God is still faithful when I feel faithless.
- God is still wise when I cannot understand.
There have been many days I’ve had to preach these truths to myself through tears, anger, and confusion. Along with that, there have been many nights when I’ve felt faithless to speak them. Yet God has remained faithful to comfort me.
Now, I don’t know if we will ever outgrow grief or become unaffected by sorrow on this side of eternity. But I do know God anchors us in something that grief and sorrow cannot undo.
Maybe that’s what grief has taught me in this season.
When everything is stripped away, remember that nothing will ever hold you like your hope in God.
Remembering,
Posted in A Word from the Pastor