The Lord understands our pain and suffering and He is acquainted with grief. At times of great personal loss, He is with us, sharing in our pain. He is full of compassion and loving kindness.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Isaiah 53:3a (English Standard Version, ESV)

Although Jesus experienced grief and sorrow Himself, it is His desire that we heal from the loss of loved ones. Do I mean that God doesn’t care about the pain we feel? No, that is not what I mean at all. And He is definitely not sitting on His throne telling us to “just get over it.” That is not His heart and that is not His way. He is kind and caring and He will be with us even during the darkest times. However, while life is drastically altered when someone we love dies, our life is not over and God wants us to take steps to live again.

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. Psalm 30:11 (NKJV)

My life’s strength melts away with grief and sadness; come strengthen me and encourage me with your words. Psalm 119:28 (The Passion Translation, TPT)

We know from the Psalms that David’s life was filled with emotional upheaval, betrayal, and even the loss of some of his own children. Yet, David says that God turned his mourning into dancing, clothed him with gladness, and encouraged him through the Word. If you are grieving right now, know that the Lord wants to return joy to your heart. Right now maybe you can’t see how you’ll ever feel like dancing again, but He wants to bring gladness back to you.

We’ve all heard that grieving is a process- and there is some truth to that. No reasonable person would expect anyone to immediately stop hurting or to suddenly become happy and lighthearted- it takes time and the love of God to help us heal. However, we cannot choose to remain in the depths of dispair forever. It will destroy our lives and our relationships because grief is a weight that no one can bear indefinitely without it damaging us and those around us. And long-term grief can affect our physical health.

I am not promising that your life will be the same as it was before- that would be a lie. And I am not saying that you should move on as if the person never lived- that would be wrong on so many levels. What I am endorsing is that you make progress daily toward enjoying life again. Some days the progress may be small. Other days it may be more significant. And some times you may even take some steps backward. But, just keep going. Keep trusting God. Draw strength and comfort from His Word and His presence like David did. Day by day by day- keep walking with God. Eventually, the weight of the grief will become less and less. And one day you will realize that you have stepped out of the valley of the shadow of death into the the light of renewed hope.

Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5b (NKJV)

You may be weeping now, but look for the morning. Choose to believe that it won’t always be this way. Jesus is the Healer of the brokenhearted, and He is faithful to mend yours. Perhaps your loss is not a recent one, but you still feel the sorrow very distinctly. The same thing applies in that situation as well- take steps daily to get into the Lord’s presence and let Him heal you. And it honors the memory of your loved one when you allow God to restore you and help you regain a life of wholeness.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3 (Amplified Bible Classic Edition, AMPC- emphasis mine)

Night does not last forever. Look for the morning, dear friend, look for the morning.