Grief. It’s a word that holds a lot in a few letters.
We don’t want it. We don’t want to think about it. We don’t want it to come up unexpectedly when we are not ready for the wave of sadness that crashes over us. But what if this is a place where we must linger?
David, the tender-hearted shepherd king, knew the range of emotions well. When he was in a state of happiness, he couldn’t contain himself, making a joyful noise to the Lord and lifting his heart in praise. When he was low, he sank to the depths, covered himself with sorrow and cried out in exhaustion and loneliness.
David dwelled where his heart was, and he wasn’t afraid or hesitant to tell God about all he felt. God was his friend, and David had lived in His goodness before. David reminded himself that he would again live in goodness. But first, he wrestled with the dark.
Inconsolable as he was, David took his pain to God. He looked back and lamented the times in his life he knew joy, and he looked to his God while speaking truth to his downcast soul.
Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.
—Psalm 42:11
David knew God. And David knew grief.
For us to know God deeper, we, too, need to know grief and not be afraid to follow where it leads. Because, if we let it, grief will lead us straight to His heart.
If we’re in a rush to get to a sunnier state internally, we miss the God whose presence is actually in the clouds. God asks us to stay in our sadness a little longer. He knows there is a depth to our faith that forms when we let the pain pour into our hearts and invite Him to reside with us in it.
Unexplainably, joy can dwell alongside sadness. It’s in our tears where we taste the Savior’s love for us, His own heart hurting with ours. Because, and don’t miss this, God is with us wherever we are. In our happiness and our heartbreak, our hope and our disappointment. Our despair and delight. There is nowhere we can go where God is not (Psalm 139:7–12).
When your heart hurts, when the tears won’t stop, take solace in Immanuel—God with us. Remember His care for you, His love, His provision in the past. And believe that He is with you now, acknowledging your pain, while preparing your hope for tomorrow.
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125 thoughts on "Grief and Remembrance"
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Amen
God please don’t let me be afraid of grief. Help me to take your hand and we’ll walk through it together. You will be with me, comfort me, love me and protect me. I will be safe
In order for us to know God even deeper we have to know grief and to not be afraid to follow where is leads, because when we let grief lead us it will take us straight to Gods heart. God tells us to stay in the sadness a little bit longer, because He knows that there is a depth in our own faith that forms when we let the pain pour into our hearts and invite God to reside with us in it. This really stood out to me, it’s in our own tears where we taste the Saviors love for us, His heart is hurting with our hearts❤️✝️✝️
All I thought of was the footprints poem. God is with us in our sadness and I struggle to remember that. Man has this been a season. God where are you? Why God? Please God. Reading today’s message actually made me smile because it’s Him telling me he’s here. He sees. He knows. He loves me I always want more,like a toddler. Lord, I hear you and thank you for reminding me that those footprints are yours.
I love that poem!❤️
Why would God ask us “to stay in sadness a little longer?” I’m not sure I understand that part. Isn’t that like wallowing? Shouldn’t we walk out of grief if we can? I lost my only sister 9 months ago but I’m feeling ok. Does this mean I need to go back and do more time in grief? Does God like grief?
No. I don’t believe this is telling us to wallow. Grief is different for every person. And even for the same person, grief for one loss will probably be different than for another loss. I was a hospice chaplain before retiring. I saw many people in all kinds of grief situations. Loss of parents, spouses, children, siblings and friends. Not one person reacted the same as another. As a chaplain. I told people experiencing loss that whatever they were feeling was just fine. and it was entirely normal. Because that’s true. Our reactions and our feelings in a time of loss are ours. They are what they are. And there’s nothing wrong with them. I can say that the people I worked with who knew Jesus, and knew that their loved one who died also knew Jesus as their Savior, had a totally different reaction to grief than people without faith. Knowing that your sister is with her Savior and happier than any of us can imagine will naturally give you peace, comfort and joy. My advice as a hospice chaplain is to know that your grief experience is normal, and just fine. God bless you. I’m praying now for His peace to fall like rain upon you, and wrap you in His comfort.
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Know also that grief comes in waves. You don’t always experience it all at once. I’m pretty sure that is part of God’s protective grace. We couldn’t bear all of the pain in one moment any more than we could bear the cross. But also, everyone’s way of grieving is unique, so don’t get trapped in a comparison game. We are told to wait on the Lord, so we wait on him in grief as well as joy.
Such great advice. Thank you for sharing!
I am so late to the table this week – boy did this devotional get me today as I come down from my crazy week. This is probably my favorite devos yet! I tend to try to get to the sunnier side quickly, but this tells me to slow down and give it to God, to not muscle through, to cry and let Him hold me. “David reminded himself that he would again live in goodness. But first he wrestled with the dark”. So today I allow the tears to fall and sit in my grief instead of ignoring how I feel and distracting myself. Beautiful comments ladies! And Tina, yours really got the tears flowing. Thank you for sharing!
Tami..❤️
I love that David shared his emotions so freely with God. Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to share my emotions freely with my parents. I don’t think they knew how to handle their own emotions, so they felt like they couldn’t handle mine. I’m so thankful that God is always with us, no matter what we feel.
Jennifer, i pray that as you have gotten older and know of Gods unfailing love that you are able to speak of your feelings, whether it only be to God, who sees and who knows your heart..❤️
“If we’re in a rush to get to a sunnier state internally, we miss the God whose presence is actually in the clouds”. This is beautiful and so profound. Thank you SARAH! It was me who tried to rush through to the sunnier state. I did not know how to deal with grief, alone, in silence, in guilt and shame. A therapist advised me to read a book called “The body keeps the score” because my body at the time had negative physical reactions when the memories replayed. I did not know at the time this book was not for the faint of heart (me), and somehow I managed to go through it half way, and I sat with it and I realized so many other people walking around me could be carrying even more dramatic situations, lifting even a heavier emotional weight of grief (the book represents different real life case studies). And suddenly I saw my issues became so small in the scale of the suffering of humanity. You know how they say if you have a bad day, and you hear a worse story, you will feel better.. that was me. The reading today included the scene where our Lord Jesus sweated blood. How would this simple-minded me ever understand His great agony? This was backed up by science (source: google search), “Sweating blood” is a real, albeit extremely rare, clinical condition known as hematohidrosis (or hematidrosis). It is characterized by the spontaneous oozing or excretion of blood through intact skin, usually in areas like the forehead, face, ears, and eyes. The Stress Response: Intense physical or emotional stress—such as severe anxiety, trauma, or profound fear—triggers the body’s “fight-or-flight” response. Vascular Rupture: The sweat glands are surrounded by a complex, net-like bed of tiny blood vessels called capillaries. During severe stress, these periglandular capillaries constrict and then suddenly dilate. This abrupt fluctuation in pressure causes the thin, delicate walls of the capillaries to rupture. We taste suffering on this earth during our lifetime (temporary afflictions, for life is a vapor), but GOD came to bear all. “I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that Cross”, and not just mine but the collective sin of mankind (think of the compound effect of sin) who can count? So very thankful for the Savior who is humble, courageous, wise, obedient, who dwells “in the clouds”, acquainted with grief and sorrows, to come down. Be blessed dear sisters.
Mercy, thank you for that explanation of Jesus sweating blood. No, I’m sure we can never know what He was experiencing as He asked God to take this cup away from him, but nevertheless. God’s will, not His, be done. ALL the sin of mankind. Mine included. None of us can know the suffering He knew was coming.
Blessings over you and yours too, Mercy.❤️
I didn’t get to comment yesterday. I feel differently about death now. I too looked at Tanner’s passing as a blessing. That God said “enough Tanner. You’ve fought a good fight. Now come be with Me.”
I will be ready to dwell with God when the time comes.
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Oh boy…grief
Grief is big. Heavy. Crushing.
But God is there every step. He holds you. He leads you through it. You can’t get through it without Him.
Telling Tanner it was okay to go. To rest in God’s arms was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
I can’t get through this without weeping.
But, it was also the closest I’ve ever felt to God. I CRAVED Him. I miss that feeling. The feeling of wanting God so badly. The feeling of appreciating how He was carrying me through this tragically difficult time.
He gave me the most beautiful gift. Seeing Tanner with a big smile telling me he was “okay”. “Mom I’m okay!” I kept that precious gift to myself for awhile before sharing it with anyone else.
God thank you, thank you, thank you.
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With you dear Traci in thankful prayer..
Hugs, hugs and more hugs❤️
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I have always loved that David felt free to ask God where He was in his times of grief, fear and running for his life. And he always followed those cries with a reminder to himself, and us, that he would feel God’s closeness once again. When my dad died of suicide and when many years later, my mom died from Covid, the grief was overwhelming. I truly did not know if I was going to survive. And I cried out, “Where are you. God?” I asked “why” at least a million times. Deep down, I knew God was there. I saw him in His people who surrounded me with love and support. And I found Him in the beauty of nature, the Blue sky, and a soft wind. Just like David, I kept crying out my grief. There is no soft-pedaling grief. It hurts like nothing else. But God was there. I think I knew He was, even when I hurt the most and cried the hardest. And eventually, I began to feel Him again. I knew He was the One who never left me, even in the darkest times. There is, indeed, joy in the morning after the darkest nights. And there is comfort when waves of grief come again. Days when the reminders hurt all over just like when it was new. God is there, letting me feel His love. And the knowledge that my parents are no longer hurting, suffering and in pain, but dancing before His throne in Heaven brings immense comfort and hope. I know I will join them there someday, and we will – alk of us- spend eternity singing praises to our Savior who makes eternity possible.
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Yes He is always near. We are never alone with Jesus!
Never, no matter what.❤️
Thank you to all who shared from your grief! And praying for those still in the thick of grief or as each milestone comes by! I lost my parents 1 year apart. It seems like just a few years ago but it has been over 20 years. The grief is real but I have more sweet memories than I do the pain.
Grief and remembrance is a perfect title for this lesson! We grieve but we can remember how God has brought us through and walks with us! He is faithful! Surrounding us in His love and strengthening us as we walk through this life!
Praying for all. Have a blessed day SHE’s and may you see glimpses of His love and grace throughout your day!
You put it well, Cheryl.
Yes, Amen Cheryl! I sure miss my Madre so very much but there is such comfort knowing she is with Jesus- free and whole, and all my memories are priceless.
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God is with us wherever we are. There is nowhere we can go where God is not!
As the wonderful Psalm 139 tells us, there is no place in our lives God is not! ❤️
This song comes to mind this morning:
His Deep the Father’s Love for Us
How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
How deep indeed is the the Fathers love for us..
Grateful for sure..❤️
❤️ we grow closer to our Heavenly Father when we are going through our seasons of grieve. It is needed and okay, even if it doesn’t feel like it♡
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What a good reminder that God is with us always and in every circumstance
Amen.❤️
I, too was there. The tears, the crying, (silently as to not let my kiddos or EX hear me). Such sadness and asking God, when will this be over? But God… I would of missed (as our writer mentions) the God whose presence is actually in the clouds. AND yet I too experienced “joy” alongside my sadness that could not be explained. I just knew MY JESUS was with me! I felt Him! And I know its because of this of where I am today! I was never angry with God. Afraid? Yes! I was afraid of the man I once called husband, but yet MY GOD was with me! I trust HIM! Today… I am FREE!!! Now God can and will use this story to help someone else FOR HIS GLORY!
Hallelujah!!
Praise God for your testimony of faithfulness!
Mari, different stories, different journeys… yet same GOD. AMEN. double AMEN.❤️
Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.’ Psalm 42:11 & 43:5
Praise the Lord that in our turmoil, sorrow, grief, heartache we can lay it all before, cry out, seek Him, long for Him and put all our hope in Him. He is the One to hold our hearts ❤️
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I have had sadness and loss, but I have read more accounts of said grief over the years. Hearing what other people have experienced and lost leaves you heartbroken for them and saying how did they even go through that? Come out of the grief. Live on. We have had many accounts here, one lady said she had lost 3 children and husband in a car wreck, and I thought…how do you go on after losing your whole family. Then you read another story in the paper..a wedding party limo where the bride, a mother, and others die. In war, where a husband and multiple sons die. There are survivors of the Holocaust that lost everything. Children suffer horrific scenerios and can’t even make sense of their grief and despair.
You just wonder why so many suffer so much, and then others it seems kinda slide by with a more unscathed life in comparison.
We don’t know why is the simple answer. Why does God give and take away? But aren’t we glad the Bible represents mourning and grief. To let us know that it is a part of life. For none of us would long for heaven if life was wonderful here. We wouldn’t recognize the Fall. We need to see and feel the dark, to long for our Savior. When a child or loved one is lost we finally HAVE to hope for something after this life. All the sudden we are not okay with life being done and over after death. It has to account for more. And if we are brought to our knees and find God, well, we might not like the way, but the result is more beautiful in the end.
I get fearful at the loss of my only child, my beloved husband or my close sister. But knowing that God will be there to help me through, is where I have to land and let it go. Trust. Keep fortifying myself daily in my faith, serving and hearing people come into his loving embrace edifies and prepares me. YOU She’s are fortifying us with your testimonies. And that is what it’s about, to bring more and more into the fold. That God is good, and we need him, but to want him when we don’t need him, is so important and impactful. The mountaintops will prepare us for the valleys, and the valleys will give us the strength to climb the mountains again. And so we sojourn on, looking at the beauty along the way. Make connections, encounters, kill a few bears and lions, and make it to the destination at last. Oh it’s gonna be so good to get home at last. But we want to run, or walk(no running here) this race well, my friends. He will fill us when we ask, on his timeline, for our best. Trust in that.
Beautifully said, Rhonda. ❤️
Thank you for this Rhonda❤️
Rhonda, Amen, Amen! Thank you for the encouragement this morning.
Beautifully said, Rhonda. ❤️
Well said my friend. ❤️
So beautifully said Rhonda!❤️
Thank you, Rhonda! I totally relate to your feelings, thanks for encouragement!❤️
Father thank You for walking with and holding me in Your hands. Amen
The goodness of God and the hope we have in Him no matter our circumstances, I’m so thankful for this.
While we may/should cling tightly to the Lord in the painful times and draw closer to Him in the hard times, we should never forget to cling tightly and draw closer when life is amazingly great. I think it can be more difficult to praise and hold tight in the good times as there can be a sense of ‘our’ accomplishments while failing to acknowledge God’s grace, guidance, wisdom and that He gave us the abilities that brought us to the good place.
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A friend of mine had Goodness of God (writers Bethel Music, Jenn Johnson, Ed Cash, Ben Fielding, Jason Ingram, Brian Johnson, 2019) sung at her family member’s funeral – what a fitting testimony that throughout their life, God had been good, faithful, merciful and close by no matter what – and that can be our testimony as well.
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MARGARET W ❤️ praying for David, and for your ex to turn to the Lord
NAT GA ❤️ thank you. I think all of us who have been around for a while remember and miss our dear CHURCHMOUSE – DOROTHY and ERB too. Thank you for saving and sharing her words with us.
Oh yes, I must add that to my Funeral Playlist!! I’m gonna have such a playlist they will have to just have to worship and praise rather that the old boring…she was this, she was that! Lets just sing!
Someone brought up Churchmouse yesterday, and I can’t quit thinking about our Dear Dorothy with her all caps and wonderful and dedicated faith and the impact it must have had on her family and friends at her funeral!
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Much love Searching..❤️
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Think I might start a list of songs for my home-going!! Goodness of God will be without a doubt on there, twice!!!❤️
Beautiful devotional on grief and remembrance.
I know this is just a little insignificant thing but in by Bible the note under Psalm 42 says, “a maskil of the Sons of Korah.” This Psalm was attributed to them writing it as well as 10 other Psalms, meaning this one was not written by David, although I’m sure he could have echoed all the same thoughts.
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“It’s in our tears where we taste the Savior’s love for us, His own heart hurting with ours.” …I praise God that we have a Savior that feels our pain and sorrows and has tasted of His own, thereby able to comfort us in our hurting.
Thank you for pointing that out. It isn’t insignificant at all and may help those who are new to Bible study.
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It amazes me when the devotion is so spot on to how I am living and feel these days. Joy dwelling alongside sadness. In my tears I can feel His love.
Prayers for all my SRT sisters.
Praying for you, Rebecca.. He is near❤️
I will trust in you, God when grief lingers for you have already conquered it!
“As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God.”
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Nothing else but God Himself will truly satisfy our hearts.
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Lean in, He is waiting to envelop you in His presence ❤️
I love that verse.
Thank you Kelly..❤️❤️❤️
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He is there, in the joy and the pain. Amen
Amen.❤️
I’ve learned that if we look for our loving and faithful God during our times of grief, He will show up❤️
Yessssss.❤️
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Grief is very hard and I still deal with it 2 years later after losing my grandma
Praying for the Lord’s continuing comfort, Shaquana. I lost my favorite grandma over 30 years ago. There is still some lingering sadness but more than that, there are so many happy memories and the peace that comes from knowing she’s been pain free since she left.
Shaquana, holding you close in prayer as you continue to grieve your grandma..❤️
Well, I knew this whole devotional would be brutal. I knew it would hit home like a strike of lightening! it had to!
I knew there would be a few areas, if not all, that would cause the tears to flow, today has the sobs.
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The memories of the early days of this journey creep back, the ache in the heart as strong as back then, it may as well have happened yesterday.
The grief, oh my goodness, I don’t think that it helps that Julees birthday is soooon and she has been on my mind more so than normal.
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I want to tell you about GOD, and how He walked, and continues to walk with me on this journey, never failing me or leaving me to deal with on my own..
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When Julee left this world, to say I was devastated would be putting it mildly, it was, and will always be my darkest time. I tried to end my life, because I didnt know how to do life without her, she had been my ‘sidekick ‘ in life since I was seventeen, and we had been through stuff!
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BUT GOD..
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Don’t you just love those two words that hold only 6 letters, but boy, do they have impact if you know GOD! His goodness, His grace, His love.
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GOD found me, or should I say He was with me, ( I just didn’t know it then) when I walked into that quaint little church, near my home, daily, for weeks, and stood at the altar and disrespected Him, accused Him, and told Him in His house, that HE was a phoney!
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Do you know what God did?
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He didn’t scold me or banished me or send fire and brimstone, NO HE DIDN’T, HE sat with me when I was exhausted and had run out of steam and He showed me a picture of where Julee was, happy running through a meadow, waving at me and in words that live rent free in my heart that I can still hear now, as the tears roll, “I’m okay, I’m happy Mum, I’m okay..”
My eyes sting at the rush of tears, but you know what?
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It is well. Truly it is well!
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I could not have arrived at this stage in my life, BUT FOR GOD!
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I take no credit for any of the wonderment on the journey, I would be a fraud if I did! Truly.
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GOD sure has wiped a few, who am I kidding a lotta tears from my face, and He graciously allows them to flow today as I remember His goodness and love when I could not see passed my Julees last breathe and her beautiful heart stopping..
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It has been a journey, a roller coaster of a journey, but the arrival at today, knowing i have been held lovingly, graciously and unceasing, without falter, is a testament to who GOD is.
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I shall return to the altar where it all began, and I WILL forever praise GOD, for He turned my mourning into dancing, my frown into a smile and my darkest time, into a light filled life, covered in His goodness, grace, peace and love.
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GOD my GOD, I will forever praise you with a thankful heart.
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Amen.
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If this were a letter using paper and pen, it would Truly be tear stained. lol.
Happy Friday, covered in much, much love, hugs and prayers for all.. ❤️❤️❤️
That is so beautiful. Ty for sharing
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Thank you for sharing your hard, yet beautiful testimony. God is always there, which has been so comforting in the hard seasons.
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Thank you..❤️
Tears here as I read your testimony of the goodness of God. We were not blessed with children so I haven’t lost a child, but have lost someone who was like our child as much as a young adult can be and have lost dear family members and a best friend. Thinking of those losses, the tears, the physical pain of grief – I get a glimpse of your pain from Julee’s homegoing yet cannot imagine the depth. I know many sisters here have walked that path and pray for the Lord’s continuing comfort for each of you.
Love you, sister ❤️
Much love, dear sister..❤️
Tina, your story never gets old. I have tears in my eyes as I read your testimony. Thank you for sharing it with us! ❤️❤️❤️
I thought the same thing…every time I hear her speak it, it has the same impact! I can’t imagine losing a child. For all who have, my heart goes out to you every birthday that comes around, holiday, things that will never be…But God. But God.
BUT GOD, indeed.. only He..❤️
God has done an amazing work – glory to His name! What a blessing to have had Julee in your life, and how God used her death to bring you to Him. I am so thankful He did, and that you are here each day inspiring us with your beautiful heartfelt words.
…will be praying for you as Julee’s birthday approaches. ❤️
Thank you Sharon..❤️❤️
Precious Tina, your story warms my heart but fills my eyes with tears. Your precious Julee is waiting on you but having a wonderful time with our Lord! ❤️
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Thank you for sharing Tina. Your testimony continues to truly speak to the goodness and faithfulness of God’s heart and how He holds ours.❤️
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Thank you, Cee Gee ❤️
Sweet Tina I thought of you right away this morning. I can’t wait to give you a tight squeeze someday, my sweet friend and it won’t be from across the pond. It will be a real squeeze. Love you, my friend.
Looking forward to that squeezeeeee❤️
Thank you for sharing your testimony Tina ❤️ it brought tears to my eyes.
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So beautiful Tina.
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Thank you Martha.❤️
Tina, your story of Julee is one that touches me so deeply, as it does everyone who hears it, I’m sure. I cant imagine the pain you have endured. BUT GOD has used Julee and your story to bring hope and comfort to so many. I’m always moved every time you say BUT GOD, because God has worked such a powerful way in your life. Bless you, today, my friend, and especially as Julee’s birthday comes around. Thank you for sharing your heart with us. ❤️
Teresa, as i said on the day of my baptism.. ” it was because of Julee”
Thank you for your kind words..❤️
❤️ thank you Tina.
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Like others said, I have been thinking of you Tina throughout this devotional. You are such a blessing to all of us. Love you much. ❤️
Catherine, I knew it would be undone, just reading the title of the devotional!Thank you .❤️
Tina I am reading your words as tears stream down my face. Thank you for sharing. I am praying for you.
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❤️ I thank God for how you continue to use all the pain/grief/suffering you have experienced to encourage so many. Thank you for being so transparent. I pray you continually experience His peace, love and presence as you share your “But God” stories.
BUT GOD..
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AMEN.❤️
“BUT GOD,” I have come to love those two words since you have graciously shared your’s and Julee’s story and all God has done to bring about your genuine faith.
BUT GOD..❤️
Tina, amen and hallelujah!