Grief

Grief can be both good and bad, even though most believe grief is just bad. But what really is grief? Without looking at the dictionary definition, there is a definition each person holds within their own head. God helps us through grief every time We need His help, because grief can tear our bodies apart and make someone very sick. But we are never going through grief alone; Gods is always by our side even if we don’t see it right away. As said in Psalm 5:1-2 “Listen to my words, Lord considers my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray.” God is always listening to us in both good and bad times, times of sadness, times of grief, and times of happiness.

When you are grieving, things can seem bleak, but God is there for you, and God even helped me in what seemed like a very bleak time. I was beginning to grieve, because I was scared, I would not be able to go see one of my best friends as I needed to switch my oxygen and forgot the key. My step-dad was looking and looking for something to open it, and I kept praying to God to allow him to find something to help so I could see my friend and do Bible study. And just when I thought it wasn’t going to happen, God answered my prayers, and my stepdad found a makeshift key. So, grief can come in many forms, but if you pray to God, He can help you through things and He answers prayers whether it is a fast or slow answer.

As it says in Psalms 5:12, “Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with Your favor as with a shield.” We are always protected by God, even if we can’t see it. Another example is last year on June 8th at 2pm, I lost my Great-Grandmother who has been my guardian angel my entire life, and while grieving her loss, I also felt at peace and was really blessed that my body didn’t fall and break. I believe that is because God was watching over me and allowing me to handle grief in a healthy way that wouldn’t take a hard toll on my body. When I was grieving, I felt a lot of pain, and I may have said things that upset people. I even really struggled with my health and stopped eating even more then I already had, but I prayed and prayed for relief, and after about two or three months I finally got it. Like it says in Psalm 6: 1-5, “Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long? Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. Among the dead no one proclaims your name. Who praises you from the grave?” After the loss, God gave me time to grieve, but He saved and protected my body before it became broken beyond repair, and He watched over me and provided everything I needed to try to turn some of my health problems around. Because He did this, I was able to switch from hospice to palliative care. Though I will probably have to go back on hospice, I have a little more time to live than doctors thought I did back in October 2022. God has blessed me, and He can bless others too if they rejoice in the joy He brings to his followers through His salvation.

I truly enjoy having God by my side. Anytime I can sing praises to Him, like singing hymns in church, I am filled with pure joy and happiness. As it says in Psalms 5:11, “But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in you.” Also Psalms 7:17 states, “I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness, I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord most high.” Singing to God fills me with joy and happiness. He surrounds my heart and protects me from those who mean harm. He has given me a battle that I have had to fight my whole life, but I have been absolutely blessed to have God by my side the whole time. I want nothing more than His presence and am grateful for His blessings as life get closer to its end and He bring me home. As it says in Psalm 7:10, “My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.”