Moving Forward

How do you proceed through life when you have faced deep loss? 

When we are hurting, people may offer us “comforting words” and inadvertently hurt us more deeply. This can cause us to want to isolate ourselves. Although it is not healthy for us to remain in isolation, perhaps if isolation is used well, it could be exactly what we need.

How did Jesus respond when he grieved? He withdrew to spend time with God (Matthew 14:13). Have you spent time in God’s presence during your grief?

For me (Ashley), throughout 2015, 2016, and 2017, I experienced a dry season. I sought God but faced a deafening silence.  Daily, I continued to read the Scripture and to share the Word of God with my students. I led worship. However, I often felt sad. I was disheartened because I sought God and wanted to feel a deep connection to Him. 

I was going through a tough time and was choosing to draw closer to Him even though it was difficult. And for a long time, I really did not feel much of anything coming from God. I continued to experience a distance. 

This experience wasn’t completely new to me but was on a much deeper level than ever before. I remember being in high school at church camp and wanting to feel close to God. I remember saying, “I’m going to seek Him more.” And it worked. When I continued to worship (and even fight) to get close to God, I have found that God is still there. Sometimes I just have to work a little harder to get close to Him.

These experiences revealed that it is ME who moves. My pain, my sin (and the sin of the world) gets in the way. 

What has gotten in the way of your connection to God?

Our connection to God is our lifeline. It’s what allows our spiritual heart to beat, to offer us purpose, and to enable us to strengthen others.

When Jesus withdrew, people followed him (Matthew 14:13). 

People watch how you grieve as well. The way you grieve can be a witness.

Later in Matthew 14, Jesus was compassionate toward others and healed them. He was saddened, but His strength came from the Lord, so much so that He was able to pour out strength to others. Ask God to heal you but also to create an opportunity for you to minister to others as a result of your healing. What ministry can come from your hurt? 

Let's pray.

God, 

Help us draw close to You (Hebrews 11:6). We want to move forward, both in this life and into Your presence one day. Illuminate our steps. Help us draw close to You so that we can draw others into Your presence. We want to move from grief into a place of strength so that we can encourage those around us. This takes supernatural power that only comes from You. Thank You that our weakness makes room for Your strength (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

Amen.

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If you would like to complete the video course along with this reading plan, check it out at https://www.elliottlifecoaching.com/love-and-loss.

-Chuck and Ashley