Navigating Griefনমুনা

The Grief of a Broken Relationship

Today, we're discussing how a broken relationship can cause us grief.

Broken relationships come in many painful variations. There is a broken marriage, estranged relationships with parents, an alienated sibling, a lost friendship, a distant and angry child—and the list continues.

One well-known example of a fractured relationship in the Bible is the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). The youngest of the two sons, showing little respect for his father and his authority as head of the household, decides it is time to turn his back on his family and seek out the pleasures of life somewhere else. I am sure the father grieved over his child and discussed how he missed him daily.

We older parents have all experienced emancipation at some point in time as our kids grow up and leave the nest. Some kids come back, and some don’t.

To echo a lesson from yesterday, grief is a natural reaction to losing someone. Similar to losing someone to death, when a relationship becomes broken, it is essential to allow yourself time to grieve and go through the emotional rollercoaster of great sadness, anger, blaming, regret, and loneliness.

Sometimes, as men, we believe that grief is not acceptable behavior for Christian men of faith. This is simply not true. Furthermore, we are not alone and follow a God who works in the reconciliation business.

Here are some simple steps to follow when we are grieving a broken relationship:

Step 1: Pray to God to restore the relationship. God can change hearts and sow forgiveness and healing even when it seems impossible. However, remember that God sees the complete picture, and restoration might not necessarily be the best outcome for you.

Step 2: Ask God to help you see the reason behind the broken relationship. How many of us have gone through tough breakups just to later find our lovely spouse on the other side? I found my wife later in life and now know that it would have been a mistake if I had married someone earlier.

Step 3: Trust in God and ask Him for healing. Remember, no matter how broken a relationship has left you, you are not alone. God's love is healing, and He will guide you through this restoration journey. Trust in His love and find comfort in His presence.

Prayer: Father, we know You can feel our pain when a relationship is broken beyond repair. We trust You for healing and comfort in this difficult time. If possible, we ask that You reconcile the relationship and give us peace and strength in the waiting. Amen.

Reflection: Are there any relationships in your life that need reconciling? Besides prayer, what might be done to take a step in that direction?