I Used to Be ___Sample

It’s time to name what you lost. It may seem unnecessarily obvious. But there’s power in identifying your loss. If you take time to identify the good things you are missing, you will be able to mourn, heal, and then look for new areas of purpose. Take a moment to pray. Tell God, “I am grieving _____, and I need Your help to heal.”

Perhaps you are grieving the loss of stability, the loss of a loved one, or the loss of your identity.

When I, Chuck, was about to leave for college, I needed to grieve some things but didn’t know it. I’d never had a huge passion for animals, but there I was, yelling about the lack of care I witnessed. A neighbor’s dog was in a dirty kennel in the backyard with no water. Suddenly, anger came over me, and I didn’t understand where it had come from. Because of my extensive expertise as a dog caretaker (just kidding, I had never owned or cared for a dog), I was filled with a righteous animal rights anger that I’m sure PETA would have been proud of. I called a friend, not the dog’s owner, and complained about the animal’s living conditions; I rattled on about how I wanted to rescue the dog and take him to the vet. My friend was completely thrown off and promptly told me to calm down.

Looking back, I see that I was scared. I was afraid I wouldn’t be successful in college and this life change would be more than I could handle. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was grieving the anticipated loss of the comfort and security I loved. I had always identified as someone who had everything together. Life was changing, and I didn’t know how to handle it. Like many of us do, I used anger to express what I didn’t know how to communicate any other way. I was angry about how the dog was treated, but if I had truly been angry about its treatment, I would’ve filled a jug with water and taken care of the dog’s basic needs. Instead, I complained to a friend, never speaking to the dog’s owner.

Can you relate? Not knowing what is going on inside our hearts and minds can lead us to feel like we are a bit out of control. Going to difficult emotional places helps us identify what we’re grieving and leads us to build self-­awareness and self-­regulation. This awareness enables us to process in a healthier way. What if this work could prevent future hurt and wounds?

It might seem like a heavy task to ask you to dig through your grief while in the midst of your pain, but remember what God tells us in Revelation 21:4: ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (NIV)

God is with us all the time, even in our pain. He promised to wipe away each of our tears. Today, take a deep breath of relief as you remember the promise of heaven and an eternity with a God who loves us through every painful moment.

Let's pray.

God,

I am grieving today. I've named my grief in Your presence and want to move toward healing. Lord, sit with me as I process my loss today and recognize the deep emotions I'm feeling. I rely on You to get me through this day.

Amen.

Journal:

Take some time to name what you lost and write a few sentences about it. You can be as specific or unspecific as you are ready for at this moment.