Hurt Help Hope: A 5-Day Grief Devotional for TeensSample

Keep Talking

After the death of a loved one, it’s normal to have spiritual questions. Whether or not you’ve followed Jesus before, loss makes us wonder lots of things about God—what he’s really like, if he’s really listening, whether he really loves us. When life is hard we can feel like God has abandoned us and doubt his actual power over our circumstances. If your anger, sadness, or any other emotion clouds your vision and makes God feel far away, the psalmist writes prayers (conversations with God) that can help.

What do these kinds of conversations look like when God feels far away? First, the psalmist models offering all of his feelings fully to God. He does not push them down or pretend like they are not a big deal. There are whole psalms about anger and about despair, psalms that question God’s presence and doubt him! All of this is okay.

Second, he keeps the conversation going; the psalmist doesn’t only talk to friends about his pain. He talks to God, even in the midst of his big emotions. “I beg for your help,” he writes. “I cry out to the Lord.” Though he is troubled and his eyes are blinded by tears, he continues to bring his feelings to God. Even when God feels distant or even absent, the psalmist won’t give up the conversation!

There is nothing that God would rather you keep to yourself. There is nothing that is off limits to talk about with him. Present all your grief, your numbness, your despair, your anger to the God who is just waiting for you to let him carry them. There is no burden that we are better at carrying than God, so why not offer all of them to him?