Grieving WellChikamu

Grief comes to each of us in different ways. Not everyone grieves in the same way. Some grieve longer. Some do not get to the hope that God provides without going through a valley or a season. Some of you are in a posture of anger about something that’s been allowed to happen in your life. You are not alone.

You might be saying, “It’s not fair,” or “I’m angry.” First of all, God allows anger. You don’t need to feel guilty because you’re angry at God. The three chapters of the book of Habakkuk are the words of a frustrated, angry man. “How could you allow this God?” I only ask that you exercise your anger respectfully. God already knows how you feel, so hiding it doesn’t make it disappear.

Also, you’ve got to have the right theology of death if you are to grieve well. And by "grieve well," I mean grieve in such a way that you honor the one whom you have lost while also allowing yourself and those around you to heal and move on.. If you don’t have the right theology of, death, you will view death only as a negative. Yet in God’s economy, He makes an astounding statement. 

He says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones” (Psalm 116:15).

Paul also says in Philippians 1:23, “But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for thatis very much better.” You do have to have an eternal perspective. If we keep that in mind while expressing our honesty to God, we keep the right perspective in our pain and in our tears.

PRAYER: Father, I believe that You have my best interests at heart even in the midst of this tragic loss. Even when I do not understand why You allow such loss to happen, I commit myself to You and to Your perfect will. Fill me with Your wisdom, so that I might respond better to loss and rise above my own pain to a place of healing and restoration. In Christ's name, amen.