Grace In Grieving
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:
Psalm 30:5
Ecclesiastes 3
2 Timothy 12: 6
2 Samuel 12: 20
Isaiah 45: 3; 61:3
SHOW NOTES:
An old life, seasons past, relationships– all can be grieved. Grief is any sort of loss. If you’ve ever lost something or someone, you know the weight and pain grief carries. However, there is a correct way–a grace way–to grieve…a grieving from a place where we approach it as a Christian through the hope in Jesus Christ. Whatever grief looks like in your case, the hope of Jesus overcomes it all. Your best days are not behind you. Your best days are now and they will continue to unfold before you.
Even though we are led by our spirit, our soulish realm allows us to feel. When we deal with grief or loss, that’s the side that takes the hit, and our soul needs to catch up to our spirit. During times of grieving, our minds need to be renewed through God’s Word so we can grow through Him. The spiritual aspect of who we are as faith-filled Christians knows all of the scriptures that can bring us comfort in seasons of grieving, but it’s imperative that we especially meditate on them and make a conscious effort to dive into scripture during times of loss.
If you’ve ever grieved someone or something, you know that grief is like waves of the ocean that come upon you. Grief doesn’t ask permission to overtake you; it just happens. Take time to be in tune with the soulish aspect of grief– to rest and restore– yet set the boundary lines of grief so that it doesn’t overstay its welcome or become your identity. Spend time in your season of grieving, but don’t fall into the enemy’s trap for you to get stuck camping out in seasons of sorrow.
When you grieve in grace, you can look at the situation through a lens of joy. The same person in Psalm 30:5 uses his voice to weep, uses his voice for songs of joy, giving praise to God. Even in valley seasons, God wants us to go through them and move forward. Staying there can block the healing process of what He wants to do in our lives, and the grace lifts if we allow grief to lodge into our hearts. God doesn’t call us to live in one season permanently or to allow a whole trajectory of our lives to be defined by temporary things.
When you have a spiritual understanding you can realize that even in your darkest moments of pain and loss, if you trust God goes ahead and will restore your soul, your perspective begins to change. He gives hope for the future and beauty for ashes. With God, you can have supernatural joy amid sorrow.
How to steward your heart during seasons of grief…
Acknowledge, but don’t wallow in it. Be careful your lamentations don’t cross over to complaining and speaking anti-faith.
Confront, but don’t camp out. Allow the Lord to restore you. Let your bad days be moments, not the regular ones.
Embrace truth. Take your thoughts captive. When you’re vulnerable, the enemy will try to wreak havoc with your thoughts and emotions. Guard your mind and weigh every thought against the Word of God.
Focus forward. Have hope. There is a good future ahead of you.
Healing comes when we grieve the Christian way. So lean into Him, give your grief to Him, and see His grace change everything.