Good Grief
“My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.” - Psalm 31:10
Grief is an emotion no one desires to experience, but everyone inevitably faces. Grief is the child who struggles with the transition of a parent. It’s the parent who struggles with the departure of a child who is now away at college living on their own, developing new relationships, and walking to the beat of his or her own drum without parental supervision. Grief is the complexity of feelings and emotions that consumes one’s heart when tragedy strikes—from shock to denial to anger to guilt to mourning.
David wrote in Psalm 31:10, “My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.” In other words, he is pointing to the hurt and the heartache, the pain and the pitfalls that come when grief invades the human spirit. It can cause depression. It causes people to be unable to sleep, unable to work, and unable to eat. And if people are not careful, they can lose the desire for life altogether.
But as tough as grief is, as difficult as it is to lose someone you love, I want to tell you that there’s something redemptive about it. Yes, there is pain, but there is also such a thing as good grief; there is something of a silver lining that can be found in this most difficult of season of life. There is a flip side to it all.
Perhaps that is what the prophet Isaiah had in mind when he said in Isaiah 61:3 that God is able to “console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called streets of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”
We know that God can make good out of all things, and that includes grief. It may not feel like it right now, but there can be good grief. God can redeem you! This is not the end my friend. Hold fast to your hope that your God will bring good to your grief!
Grief is an emotion no one desires to experience, but everyone inevitably faces. Grief is the child who struggles with the transition of a parent. It’s the parent who struggles with the departure of a child who is now away at college living on their own, developing new relationships, and walking to the beat of his or her own drum without parental supervision. Grief is the complexity of feelings and emotions that consumes one’s heart when tragedy strikes—from shock to denial to anger to guilt to mourning.
David wrote in Psalm 31:10, “My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.” In other words, he is pointing to the hurt and the heartache, the pain and the pitfalls that come when grief invades the human spirit. It can cause depression. It causes people to be unable to sleep, unable to work, and unable to eat. And if people are not careful, they can lose the desire for life altogether.
But as tough as grief is, as difficult as it is to lose someone you love, I want to tell you that there’s something redemptive about it. Yes, there is pain, but there is also such a thing as good grief; there is something of a silver lining that can be found in this most difficult of season of life. There is a flip side to it all.
Perhaps that is what the prophet Isaiah had in mind when he said in Isaiah 61:3 that God is able to “console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called streets of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”
We know that God can make good out of all things, and that includes grief. It may not feel like it right now, but there can be good grief. God can redeem you! This is not the end my friend. Hold fast to your hope that your God will bring good to your grief!
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2024
January
Let it GoA Prayer for RestorationThe Power of Self-ForgivenessEmbracing FreedomFrom Transgression to RedemptionRelease and FreedomWisdom in ReflectionBlessed Assurance in ForgivenessEmbracing Divine RestTrusting in the WaitingEmbracing Peace in Unresolved MomentsMoving Forward Without ClosureA New Chapter AwaitsRefocusing for a New ChapterThe Danger of Looking BackLet God Be Your DefenseGod's Victory, Not OursThe Author of Your New ChapterThe Faithful Promise KeeperA Promise UnveiledThe Urgency of ObedienceThe University of AdversityThriving in AdversityForging the Future YouTransformative Power of AdversityThe Role of ResilienceThe Gift of EmpathyChanging PerspectiveGod's Purpose in Your AdversityThe Anchoring Power of TrustConsistent in Prayer, Unwavering in Praise
February
Navigating Life's JourneyLessons from the Prodigal SonStaying on TrackA Lesson in PatienceTrusting in God's TimingAvoiding the DriftChoosing Your Company WiselyThe Impact of Your Inner CircleThe Call to Responsible StewardshipFrom Rock Bottom to RedemptionGetting My Life Back On TrackWholeness Beyond Rock BottomWaking Up to ResponsibilityFacing the FactsOnly God Can Make Life Worth Living You Can Do ItYour Transformation MattersBreaking Free from ShameGod's Unwavering CareThe Good ShepherdThe Shepherd Who ProvidesFinding Refuge in God's ProtectionGod's Omnipotent ProtectionGod's Unseen ProtectionOverflowing BlessingsA Unique LoveA Divine ExchangeThe Power in His Precious BloodFrom Trials to Praise
March
Cleansing Body, Mind, and SpiritDetoxifying the MindDetoxifying for Spiritual EmpowermentThe Promise of God's PresenceWalking Purely Under God's ProtectionEmbracing God's Promise of RedemptionEmbracing God's Promise of ReconciliationThe Blessing of God's Adoption and ProvisionGod Desires RelationshipGod's Unconditional LoveGod's Gift of GraceNot OptionalPromises for the ChosenVIP Status in the KingdomThe Necessity of Cleansing for Kingdom CitizensThe Power WithinFinding Peace Beyond the PastHealing WoundsCleansing the TempleUnpacking the Trauma WithinHealing from WithinThe Promise of HealingBeyond the MindFinding Safety in Your BodyThe Power of a WishThe Ultimate WishBeyond Religious PerformanceBeyond Personal AchievementTrue Gain in Knowing ChristKnowing Christ DeeplyThe Power of His Resurrection
No Comments