Overwhelming Grief
It has happened to us all. We are on this life journey. The road has been fairly smooth. Skies are blue. The sun has been shining on us. No storms. Then we round a curve or come to the top of a hill and there it stands. DEATH. Right behind DEATH, stands GRIEF.
We met death on the road this week. My dear sister-friends and I. The family of six sisters that I grew up with. Our children grew up together. We had grandchildren at about the same time. We go to church together…Bible Study..have prayed one another through tragedy and difficult times..
Death had come. Quickly and with no warning took one of the dear sisters. There had been no horrific diagnosis. No excruciating illness. She had worked in her garden every day. She had been nursing an older sister back to health. Gone. In just a moment.
When death blindsides us like this, the pain is unbearable. Shock sets in. Unbelief. Surely this can’t be true. The sweet faces of my friends exhibited unspeakable pain.
It was as if Death had taken its long bony fingers, reached inside their chests, and snatched their broken, still-beating hearts out of their body…their sweet faces contorted with the agony of overwhelming loss. They had always been “six sisters”. How would they walk on as only “five”?
They will walk on with Jesus. They will need to sit awhile. After overwhelming loss, they will need time. Time alone with the Father. Time with one another. Then after a bit, time with us.
They will adjust to living as five. The Comforter will hold them and love them as only He can. It will never be the same…would not even want it to be. Walking with Him will make it “doable”. Maybe at first, face 5 minutes…then an hour…then half a day… until doing life again is possible.
It is so difficult to watch your dear ones suffer. We want to “make it better”. We want to “fix it”. We do not possess that ability. It is not in our skillset. Only our Father…Jesus…Holy Spirit…can do that.
We can pound the doors of Heaven with our prayers on their behalf. We can speak God’s promises in His Word over them. We can be present if they need us. We can wait. We can do those things. Those are the things they need from us.
Maybe prayer and presence are the two most important things we can offer to our loved ones in these times. Maybe we do “stand aside” and allow The One who is able, to apply His healing to their wound.
We will walk this road together again…just not today…today, I wait while they rest in Him… comforted in His Love.
John 14:1-6
In the wake of death you have reminded us there can be a raw beauty found only in God who Himself knows the suffering of loss. May your heart be comforted by our loving Father as you walk this path of grief with the One who has overcome death.
Thanks !
Reminds me somewhat of planting seeds. We can plant but only God can make them grow.
Grief is something that stays with us. The more we love the more we grieve. That has been with me today. Your message spoke to me today. Since Robert passed in January the grief has come at time but the tears have flowed all day today. God has got this! Love you and you message today.
Gwen, we share so much together. Today I share your grief in the death of your friend. My 95 year old brother and friend is with Jesus as of this week. As Jesus wept when Lazarus died, I weep with you my good and faithful friend.
Its been two years since daddy’s passing. Seemed like the cancer came so quickly and before I realized it, he was gone. I miss him so, so much but praise God that he limited his suffering to four months. There’s so many emotions attached to grief. I have to stand on the promise that I will see him again.
Gwen we needed this. With so many dying that I know my heart hurts. It is like you said, I feel the blanket of sadness too.