Originally published in December 2017 edition of The Healing Line
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He restores my soul.
Your rod and staff, they comfort me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
– Portions of Psalm 23
Your rod and staff, they comfort me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
– Portions of Psalm 23
Grief is classified as an emotion and a state of being. Grief feels like sorrow or anguish. Spiritually and psychologically its function is to activate us to cry, to help us accept truths of loss, and to engage in support from others and God. These are ways that the pain of grief can be comforted. Grief, as a state of being, is sorrow and other similar emotions we are immersed in for a period of time.
Grief has been one of my closest companions for many, many years. My mother died in 2004 which was near the beginning of a ten-year season of significant losses for me. There was an ache that moved in and remained. Over time, I began to realize that to grieve is actually a gift from God. We grieve because we have the desire to love which has been placed in us by Him. We are made in God's image, capable of deep love and joy. Therefore, by design, we are capable of experiencing deep, deep sadness and pain upon loss. When we love someone or something, the experience is felt within every part of our being. Perhaps the most beautiful, powerful experience of life is found in being known and loved as well as knowing and loving another.
Grief has been one of my closest companions for many, many years. My mother died in 2004 which was near the beginning of a ten-year season of significant losses for me. There was an ache that moved in and remained. Over time, I began to realize that to grieve is actually a gift from God. We grieve because we have the desire to love which has been placed in us by Him. We are made in God's image, capable of deep love and joy. Therefore, by design, we are capable of experiencing deep, deep sadness and pain upon loss. When we love someone or something, the experience is felt within every part of our being. Perhaps the most beautiful, powerful experience of life is found in being known and loved as well as knowing and loving another.
