I truly thought I was over this, but I guess I’m really not.
It’s been exactly a year today since my dad’s passing, but in my mind’s eye it feels like yesterday. The sights, the sounds, the smells, the feelings are all still fresh. Everything is so vivid; everything still feels so raw.
Grief is interesting, isn’t it?
It often resembles the waves in the ocean. Sometimes those waves are smaller and come in further apart, while other times those waves are bigger and come in closer together.
And just when we think the big waves are over, another one emerges to knock us right off our feet.
That’s exactly how today was for me.
Through most of the day, I was experiencing the joys of celebrating my birthday, but then come mid-day something changed.
It was as if a gray storm cloud passed over the still waters of my soul and brought with it a downpour of sorrow as a giant wave of grief hit me from out of nowhere. Had I been anticipating it, I would not have been so surprised. But I wasn’t, and the grief toppled me over with one sweeping blow.
Maybe you too are finding yourself knocked over by a giant wave of grief. Maybe the blow has you sputtering or even gasping for breath. Maybe you’re feeling like you just can’t seem to acquire your footing or that you’ll never stand again.
Please know, friend, that you will!
You are not alone in your grief. There is One who knows and understands your pain. He too feels your loss and shares in your sorrow.
Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (NIV). Or as the Good New Translation puts it, “The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope.”
Like a life preserver floating in the ocean, so is our God. We can cling to Him and know that no matter the size of the waves that consume us, He will always keep us afloat.
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for always being with us, especially in our times of grief and sorrow. It is comforting to know that we are not alone but that Your presence is with us and will help us. Please comfort the one tonight who is struggling. Wrap Your loving arms around that person and console him or her with Your peace. See us through, O God, our times of sorrow, and strengthen us to stand once again, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.