Grief

Grief is a day shrouded in fog and icy rain fed by a howling wind. It is spoiled fruit no longer fit to be savored. Grief makes its exhausted bed in a hidden cave on a barren mountain ridge called Sorrow.  It rests in rare moments of silence and grows weary amidst mindless laughter. Its tears leave furrows unfilled by platitudes. When its memories are roused, new rivers flow, and expectation is uprooted, torn, and damaged. ​

​For many, ringing bells, joyous carols, and the festive holiday spirit stoke the embers of pain. For grief is often birthed in loss, and loss is seldom fooled or healed by mirth and melody. One may have a thousand triumphs and confess they mean little compared to profound anguish. For celebrations are brief while heartache lingers. Grief advances with age, discernment, and with wisdom. It is not to be trifled with, for it holds a solemn honor. In its blackest hour, grief is best encouraged by the embrace of love that comes from a deep heart of understanding.
 
Meditation
Psalm 119:28--I am weary from grief; strengthen me through Your word.
Ecclesiastes 1:18--For with much wisdom is much sorrow; as knowledge increases, grief increases.
 
If you are grieving, you are not irreparably damaged. You are not lesser. You are not a pariah in a neighborhood of Pollyannas though they implore you to “just get over it.” In your mourning, you are seen by the Father of sorrows.  In your sobbing, you are heard by the slain-risen Savior. In each pain-filled convulsion, listen for the voice of the comforting Spirit and let Him speak to your soul.
            
How does this happen?  Through His perfect Word.  Grief is not a mystery.  It is adversity and perversity, disease and death, betrayal and bondage. God knew it when Eve ate the forbidden fruit.  Jesus felt it staked to a cross. Heaven gave us a manuscript that addresses good and bad grief. “For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Thank God, grief will come to an end. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

If you are in a season of sorrow, take courage in this—you are priceless.  Read this out loud. “My Father in heaven deeply loves me. I am precious in His sight. I matter. I’m understood.  He who is in me is greater than all the combined grief in the world. Praise God for the victory that comes through Jesus.”  
​Something to think about . . . in reveration! 
 
Inspiration
“If we try and evade sorrow, refuse to lay our account with it, we are foolish. Sorrow is one of the biggest facts in life; it is no use saying sorrow ought not to be . . . If you receive yourself in the fires of sorrow, God will make you nourishment for other people.”—Oswald Chambers in My Utmost For His Highest
 
©2022 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)