There Is a Balm in Gilead

Open Your Bible

Jeremiah 8:18-22, Luke 7:1-10, 1 Peter 2:24

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 8:18-22, Luke 7:1-10, 1 Peter 2:24

I hadn’t ever experienced the heartwrenching presence of cancer until my grandmother was diagnosed a little over two years ago. She was 92 years old, and the cancer took over her body quickly. After her diagnosis in May, she declined rapidly throughout the summer, until my mother called one Friday to tell me it was over. She passed away in early September—Labor Day weekend, my senior year of college. I can still remember my best friend, who’d heard the news before I did, bringing me a cup of coffee and sitting with me in my tiny bedroom apartment while I cried.

Throughout that entire summer when my grandmother was sick, my family was already grieving. We were grieving the loss of her independent lifestyle, and the spunk with which she talked about her friends and family. We were even grieving her ability to make the best macaroni and cheese we’d ever eaten.

Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
So why has the healing of my dear people
not come about?
—Jeremiah 8:22

When sickness and death invade our comfortable lives, we can find ourselves wondering where to turn. Like Jeremiah, we find ourselves questioning when the healing will come. We pray, we lament, we cry out for help.

Grief hits in ways we don’t anticipate. It’s the macaroni and cheese tasting just a little bit off on Thanksgiving, even though it’s the same recipe. It’s slow Sunday afternoons that feel empty without phone calls to talk about Alabama football. It’s crying in the candy aisle over a bag of Hershey’s Kisses because there was always a bowl of them on her coffee table. Grief is hard. But grief is an appropriate response to pain—it shows that something matters. When something hurts, it’s important to lament it.

But because of Christ, our lamenting doesn’t have to last forever. We don’t have to put our hope in earthly healing. When the pianist played this melody at my grandmother’s memorial service, I openly wept—not necessarily out of grief, but out of gratefulness for the healing balm found in Christ.

There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole,
there is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul.

Because of Christ, there is healing. There is hope. There is comfort for the sick, both spiritually and physically. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross gives us new life in Him. By His wounds, we have been healed of our sin (1 Peter 2:24). Christ, the ultimate Healer, bandages our hearts and mends our broken souls.

There Is A Balm In Gilead
Traditional Spiritual

There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole,
there is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged
and think my work’s in vain,
but then the Holy Spirit
revives my soul again.

There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole,
there is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul.

If you cannot preach like Peter,
if you cannot pray like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus
and say, “He died for all.”

SRT-HymnsofHope-Shareimage-Day2

Ellen Taylor was born and raised in sweet home Alabama, but has called Nashville home since 2013. When she’s not working as the editorial assistant at She Reads Truth, you can find her enjoying good food and good conversation with her friends and family. She is a lover of iced coffee, ugly dogs, and the Oxford comma.

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104 thoughts on "There Is a Balm in Gilead"

  1. Angie Cain says:

    I have a husband with health issues and I am appreciative of your article. It points out that we do go through hard times. It doesn’t mean God has abandoned us. He goes through it with us.

  2. Caitlyn Lloyd says:

    This was such a good read really needed this

  3. Christine Nelson says:

    There is a Balm of Gilead!!!

  4. Judy Thigpenn says:

    A lady from the church I use to pastor died last week from Covid, what a hard time and grief is real but to know that Jesus is that balm that we need in this time brings comfort.

  5. Dori Bean says:

    This study couldnt be more appropriate as our lives are turned upside down due to covid-19. Praise God for his promises!

    1. Colleen Maciag says:

      I was thinking the same exact thing Dori!

  6. Whitney KnoxMcDaniel says:

    Read this on March 20, 2020 in the middle of the COVID19 pandemic. What beautiful timing to be reminded there is a Balm in Gilead, and that our hope is in Jesus Christ alone

    1. Erin WilsonAnderson says:

      Same here! Read on March 21, 2020 and feel encouraged despite the situation..

    2. Julia Hagen says:

      Same here! Just read it this evening. Reminding myself to put our hope on our Lord.

  7. Rachel Potter says:

    Thanking God for the blessing of feeling that balm working in my life. Seeing the growth and healing take place has placed hope and joy in my heart where there used to be bitterness and fear. I am thankful to be on the road to healing and to be filled with hope for what is to come.

  8. Avis DeniseGraves says:

    Still grieving the loss of my pastor, acknowledging the healing power of the Balm…

  9. Emily Harwood says:

    Having my step father pass away from cancer 7 years ago, I know this pain. It’s still hard sometimes to understand. Now that my husband and I are facing infertility, I’m experiencing grief in a new way and praying for the balm of Gilead in our lives.

  10. Claire Beekman says:

    Thank you for this devotional. I have grieved lo loved ones

  11. Joni Shuler says:

    This was a wonderful read. My husband has been diagnosed with cancer and to be honest its killing our marriage. Im trying to be strong. And be strong for our daughter but its tough. Im struggling.

    1. Emily Cook says:

      Praying for you and your marriage, Joni!

    2. Davina Pereira says:

      Jesus, thank you for ministering to this marriage.

    3. Martha Echandy says:

      Hi Joni. I don’t know if you’ll get to read this, but I know what it is to be in that hard place where your husband is struggling. Know that He is taking care of him and you too. He is our hiding place, in those strong arms where we feel safe and understood and where we receive his never ending peace.

  12. Sarah NicoleJustiss says:

    This one hit so close to me. My grandmother passed away recently. Just this past week I made cauliflower soup, which I had promised to make her the next time I visited. That next time I visited was when she passed away. I hadn’t made it since then, and I just broke down and sobbed. It is a good reminder that while her physical body is gone, her soul was made whole with the Father. This was something I needed to hear so deeply! ♥️

  13. Kayleigh says:

    I chose to go through this reading plan first for 2019 because I’m in need of a large helping of hope. We miscarried for the second time this past September, and it left me angry. Not at God or anybody…just angry. Cynical. And this post has been a sweet reminder to my soul that even in my running from Him, He didn’t leave me, didn’t stop loving me. He sought me and redeemed me. What hope we have in Jesus!

  14. Kate Fletcher says:

    So thankful to have read this today. A dear friend is losing both her mother and uncle to cancer. This timing of this is divine. I will be re-reading this as often as needed.

  15. Becky Bixler says:

    Thanks from this girl in Alabama!

  16. Madz Caillan says:

    Thank you, thank you so much for this ❤️

  17. Alyssa Ringo says:

    My husband and I are currently struggling with the pain of infertility. This has definitely been a week of discouragement so I needed this hymn so much!

    1. Lynn Michelle says:

      Hang in there, it’s no fun. My husband and I suffered With infertility for years and had help with our first daughter. Then out of the blue we conceived naturally our 2nd daughter. God has a SPECIAL plan just for you according to HIS timing. Try to enjoy life to the fullest each day as you wait.

    2. Tara Chatham says:

      I know that pain and have grieved for many years over the struggle to grow our family. It’s easy to feel that God has forgotten you or simply doesn’t care. I’m praying for you in your discouragement and that you will find peace and encouragement in the truth of God’s word.

      He is good. He is faithful. Just because God can, doesn’t mean He will…but just because God hasn’t, doesn’t mean He won’t.

      Ephesians 3:20-21 brought me peace. “Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

    3. Emilyann Pool says:

      ❤️❤️❤️

  18. Nicole Rannefeld says:

    “Grief is hard. But grief is an appropriate response to pain.”
    My family and I have lost two grandparents (Mommas ma and dads dad) within about three months this year. It is hard to go through the process of grieving twice within such short amount of time. But knowing Jesus griefs with us is truly comforting and He Sees and catches every single tear.

    1. She Reads Truth says:

      We’re so sorry to hear this Nicole. Thanks for sharing with us and our team will be praying for you and your family during this time. -Margot, The SRT Team

  19. Lauren Craig says:

    I lost my mom oct. 15 2018 And I couldn’t agree more with your comment. I’ve found that I have been in such a drought over things not being the same. But I’m so thankful for this message and knowing that God is the ultimate healer!

  20. Marye Smith says:

    Good evening,
    My name is Marye Smith and I am a Believer for over 30 years, a veteran educator of 29 years, a wife, grandmother, speaker, and recently an author. your reading was forwarded to me by a colleague who is also a Believer. Apparently, we both have something in common. You see, I just published a short book entitled, Is there No Balm in Gilead: Healing for the Hopeless, Hurting, and the Brokenhearted. Your reading has blessed me tremendously! I also share about the passing of my mom, but much more. Along with sharing my own story, I was privileged to be the voice of others who for fear of being criticized or judged, allowed me to tell their stories. although name s and locations, even some perspectives have been modified to protect these precious people, the messages are powerful and worthy to be told. Having said that, I would love for you or anyone else who might be lead to go to my website and take a look at this work or you may contact me at the email provided. My website is https://maryesmith53.wixsite.com/website. May God bless all you put your hands to do for Him as you go, glow, and grow from Glory to Glory (2 Corinthians 3:18)

  21. Porsche Uche says:

    Wow! I was literally in tears majority of today, grieving over my mothers death 10/3/16, I woke up, shambled, hurt and felt as if a piece of me was missing, I needed work today. As my heart was crushed and my personality in drought, I’m at peace knowing Jesus is near, and I’m building and restoring my faithfulness, trust and expectation in his word to teach me, guide me and comfort me in days as today.

  22. Kelley Basatneh says:

    Here’s a more upbeat rendition of Balm in Gilead: https://youtu.be/zW0S1sowcyA
    Enjoy!

  23. Cari Mahan says:

    My current grief is over families in our church who are enduring hardships due to sins rampant in their own lives. God is so good to give us that balm! To let us know that He can heal it all! Reach to Him sweet souls❤️ He can heal our sin sick souls.

  24. Alex Weikel says:

    Pray**

  25. Alex Weikel says:

    What sticks out to me is when she talks about how grief is pain and how pain shows us how important it is to us. I love my parents but there terribly messy divorce and my father’s behavior ever since brings so much pain to me. It hass always seemed silly to continue to feel pain over the loss of my family but it was important to me. I just pay that one day God will bring healing to our broken family.

  26. Cori S. says:

    “In the pain, there is healing. In Your name, I find meaning. So I’m holding on…I’m barely holding on to you.” –“Broken” by Lifehouse

  27. Heather DMontz says:

    This reminded me so much of when my grandmother passed. After breaking her femur her health declined and later that Summer was diagnosed with cancer and was gone within a week. We had barely came to grips with the diagnosis before she was gone. That Thanksgiving I cried for hours while cooking dinner. That was my first real adult experience with grief, how painful it can be and how much we have to lean on God through it.

  28. Lindsey Brewer says:

    Praising God for the comfort He provides.

  29. Natasha Reyes says:

    Thank you, ladies, for sharing your pain here, and also for sharing your wisdom and strength. I pray for all of you who are grieving, scared, sad and angry, and ask Jesus to soothe you with his healing balm. May you all have a grace-filled day today.

  30. Dorothy says:

    I know this may be a little off the subject and I hope that all of you can be open-minded, I just found out that my son and his finance are using invito fertilization to have a baby (she is 41 years old) and they had their first harvest of eggs and sperm and only two of ten are viable to become embryos. They have one more chance in August, she turns 42 in September, and then they won’t be able to try any more. Please pray for them, Andrew, who strayed 15 years ago after his older brother’s death, and Dani, who believes are down and discouraged. Dani more so than Andrew or so she voices it more but being Andrew’s mother I know that he too is discouraged.
    I know what it’s like to lose a loved I lost my father last June to heart problems after braking his hip, he was 88 years old. He was a devote Christian and loved the old hymns. He could recite many Bible verse and comprehended them. The thing that both him the most was when someone would take one verse and use it to get a point a cross when it didn’t really mean that. He felt that the surrounding verses needed to be looked at before you could fully understand what God or Christ were saying. Prior to my father’s death, I lost my mom in a car accident in 2012 and my oldest son died in 2003 by drowning. Family loss has hit hard over the last 15 years but had not been for my faith I don’t know where I would be. I too need prayer right now though because in the last two or three months my faith has been being tempted by the devil. I hear my father, mother and son from heaven telling me to fight and be strong but I at times can’t. Sorry about carrying on but I needed to ask for prayers and I know that you my sisters in Christ would send out the prayers needed. I am grateful for so many sisters in Christ.

    1. Kara says:

      Oh Dorothy my heart is heavy for you. Praying that the Lord will draw you near in this difficult time.

    2. MNmomma (HeatherN) says:

      Prayerful over you!

  31. Danielle Williams says:

    About four months ago my mom went in for an MRI and found out she has a 9cm tumor in her brain. At first they thought it was benign, but once they did the craniotomy, they realized it was cancerous. Because of the size and the fact that it was a plasmacytoma (in the blood of her bones), they thought for she sure had the cancer throughout her whole body. I have never felt so sick and scared and miserable in my life, but my mom kept saying, “By Jesus’ stripes I am healed” even when she was scared she would say that. I never doubted God could heal her I just wasn’t sure if he would. I went home and fell on the ground, begging God to heal her and give me this one thing. I felt an overwhelming calm and had a push to update her condition on Facebook as we had a GoFundMe account set up. I don’t post much about bible verses to avoid drama. But I did feel a push to ask everyone to pray that verse. I went on Instagram right after and thirty min before my Facebook post, a Christian lady I follow posted that same exact verse. I knew it was God. He was giving me comfort and reassurance. When I went back to the hospital, I told my mom and every time she got scared I reminded her God already healed her. Well, a few days later she did the bone marrow test and all the results came came back from the biopsy around and the tumor. And guess what. She was healed! It didn’t spread and the doctors were so surprised because they though best case scenario she would need five weeks of intense radiation, but she didn’t even need to do that. Besides giving His Son to die for my sins, this was the greatest gift I’ve ever received. Prayers work and God cares and loves us. I know it doesn’t always work out this way, but I believe my mom still has work to do here. Thank you, Lord, for healing my mom.

    1. Deborah Craytor says:

      Praise God!

    2. Anamaria Llorca says:

      This is amazing I literally have tears in my eyes. Here’s to many more years for your mom here on earth. God bless you both!

    3. Laura says:

      Praise God!! He still performs miracles today! I love all of the stories of emotional healing and comfort but it is so important that we not forget that He has the power to overcome, heal and provide for ALL of our needs. Such an awesome testimony. Standing in agreement with your mothers healing and thanking God for it alongside you.

  32. Kenzie Montagna says:

    I have been going through a season of hardship lately. I just moved across the country, and am completely alone aside from my boyfriend. While I know it doesn’t compare to a death of a loved one, I almost feel like I’m going through the death of my old life. I’m learning to trust in God and let Jesus be what heals me, and to not only rely on myself

    1. Regine says:

      I know this feeling of mourning the end of a great time in my life, being at a new place & feeling so alone. Jesus always stays the same! Praying you will soon see the change was good looking back! I really see his provision now. God bless you!

    2. Carol Greenwood says:

      And find somewhere to fellowship we all need supportive community xx

    3. Kelley Basatneh says:

      Kenzie, I went through this for about 5 years (10 years ago) when I moved across the country. Truly, I still miss the place I left. However, I now enjoy a good church, great friends, and a much more rewarding job. It was not until I really reached out at my church and became involved there that the grief started to go away. I believe God gives us the gift of change to change us, and in that, we can know that He is good. Reach to Jesus. His word heals us and soothes our hearts when we heart.

  33. Lynn Johnson says:

    Let’s try this again…I love the last line in the devotion…Christ, the ultimate healer, bandages our hearts and heals our souls. Beyond grateful ❤️

    1. Karla MiltonHaynes says:

      Me too!

    2. Danielle Hoffer says:

      ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

  34. Lynn Johnson says:

    I love the last line in the deviation…Christ, is the ultimate healer,

  35. Churchmouse says:

    When I first started following SRT I was overcome by the transparency and honesty of those who post here. I remain moved by the sheer number and depth of the prayer requests and the many who so quickly drop to their knees in intercession. I’m so grateful that SRT includes a grace day each week – I use that day for concentrated prayer for those who have shared their needs in their posts. I write them in my prayer notebook. It’s a privilege to go to the throne on each sister’s behalf, knowing that our God is more than able to meet each one perfectly. And I thank those of you have prayed for me and my family. Prayer is no small thing. I note this today because once again I’m overwhelmed by the heavy heavy needs that have been mentioned. I wish I could hug each one of you.

    1. MNmomma(Heather Nistler) says:

      I am right there with you!!!! I have had a recent season where I haven’t been in “real time” with the devotions…heck, I’m a day late with this one already! LOL! So, I haven’t been commenting, BUT I am praying over the requests, and lifting you all up….I am so very thankful for my SRT sisters <3

  36. Anamaria Llorca says:

    I lost my brother who was very much so my very best friend to a tragic traumatic accident over a year ago we are both in our 30’s, then in Oct of last year I got sick. Doctors are still trying to come up with a plan of treatment and a solid diagnosis but to say it’s been the hardest year of my life is an understatement. Today on my way to the Doctors, I had one of those Ugly cry moments, ya know the ones where you just let go of everything you’ve been holding in? I begged God to heal me, to protect my family, to ease my anxiety, to heal my soul, amongst other things and in that moment of pure disparity “Just be Held” came on Pandora and I felt his presence with me. And then now at the doctors, I read this devotional. I’m new to faith and believing that God is going to always be with me but today I felt peace and reassurance. Awesome message.

    1. Karla MiltonHaynes says:

      Share your experience. Someone needs to hear your story and know how God has given you peace.

      1. Anamaria Llorca says:

        In time I might, it’s very long but it’s definitely something that I think might bring healing to someone. I’ll pray about it and see what the Lord leads me to do.

    2. Julie Waldvogel says:

      I’m going to keep you in prayer. God won’t always be able to rescue you from all trials because of our sin-filled world, but always know that he’s right beside you – a constant companion. You can always talk to him.

  37. Kelly Chataine says:

    Grief is complicated but I agree with the writer that it is an appropriate response to pain and an outward sign that something that once mattered is gone or out of our reach for a time. My husband and I will celebrate 35 years of marriage in November. However, I miss being a wife. For the past nine months, I have acted as nurse, physical therapist, chauffeur, laundress, cook, cleaner, yard maintainer, nutritionist, bookkeeper, secretary and more. Oh, how I yearn to be a wife, again. As I type these words tears are welling up in my eyes and a lump is forming in my throat because the grief is present and real. I grieve and miss our conversations, that feeling of security a strong man can bring, the sharing of chores, hearing sweet words of affection, and I miss being touched. I am almost never alone because he still needs me with him a lot but yet, I often feel alone. My husband is right here however he is not within my reach, at least not yet.

    1. MNmomma (Heather N) says:

      Wrapping you in prayer Kelly <3 I know I have been sort of quiet in the message boards lately, but I have thought of you often- I even had tried to find you on FB to message you :) You have been on my heart a lot lately….prayerful over you…..Heather Murphy Nistler

  38. Brittany says:

    My grandmother past away in May, me and my sisters never got to spend the time with her that my cousins did. She was too old by the time we were born.

    Believe it or not, she is one of the reasons my anxiety has been getting better. She forced me to walk into a hospital before she passed.

  39. Tricia Cavanaugh says:

    Wow. How appropriate is the Lord’s timing with this scripture and song. My husband just not five minutes ago told me that his cousin just committed suicide and how was his aunt ever going to deal with that? There is a balm in Gilead. I will pray that she remembers Christ is that balm. My heart just aches after all the family has been through. But, my eyes are on Jesus. He can soothe the broken hearted. Praise be.

  40. KatieinSc says:

    “by his wounds you have been healed”

    shivers, every time.

  41. Mari V says:

    April 12, 2008, my daddy he took his last breath on this earth. He was an amazing man of God. No earthly man will ever fit into his shoes. 10 years later I still cry as if it was just yesterday. I love my daddy I miss him so much. I’m thankful that I had such a wonderful dad.

    1. Dorothy says:

      Mari I went through that June 22, 2017, my daddy died and I miss him so much but I still talk to him. He too was a Godly man.

  42. Jeanna McSweeney says:

    My husband is wasting away from cancer right now. My heart is wrenched and beaten down. The Lord is my balm that heals and protects my sad heart, and I will share this with him, so that he can experience God’s balm of grace and mercy♥️

    1. Maddie Danielson says:

      Jeanna, for a long time I could read stories like this and not understand the grief behind your words, but as a newly married woman I am sitting here with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart for you and your family. I cannot imagine the pain of seeing your person going through that. I’m lifting up you and your husband in prayer and I feel the lord saying “I am home.” I don’t totally know what that may mean for you right now but I hope it is a small candle in the darkness.

    2. Lisa says:

      Oh Jeanna, my heart hurts for you. Lifting you up to the Lord this morning, and thanking Him for you hope and faith.

    3. Melissa Mitchell says:

      Jeanna you and your husband are in my prayers. Reading this made my heart sad for you, so I can not even imagine the pain you feel everyday. The Lord will always comfort you sad heart, prayers and hugs sent y’all’s way

  43. Cindy Pritchett says:

    What a loving God to know that we would need Him dearly in the midst of our deepest sorrow.

  44. Lindsey Dartt says:

    I love reading ab Jesus and his heart toward people who grieve. He went right to the man and as soon as the man sent a servant to plead for his daughters life he healed them. But I think the story is more about the mans faith in his grief… he wasn’t demanding of God he was humble and still remembered who God was. I would say it’s easier to question God when I’m in pain than to keep humility. Interesting story and a lot to think about

    1. Dorothy says:

      I agree about questioning God when your in pain. My youngest son, niece and nephew have question God for 15 years now after my oldest son died, he drowned. Prior to that the three of them had great faith but they were young, both in age and faith. My niece was 19, my son almost 15 and my nephew 12. They were all like brothers and sister. Their pain continues today.

  45. Olivia Plunkett says:

    My grandfather recently passed away, and his death was the first in my family. Dealing with grief is incredibly difficult because even though life feels completely normal, you then feel guilty for feeling like everything is normal. Knowing that he won’t be at any more holiday parties or that my grandma is alone (which she shouldn’t be) hurts so much, but I have to continue to tell myself he is with God now and is a better place.

    1. She Reads Truth says:

      Hi Olivia, we’re so sorry to hear this. We’ll be praying for you and your family during this. So glad that you’re here reading with us. -Margot, The SRT Team

  46. Jena says:

    Thank you for this devotional today! For bringing light and hope into dark places. I am just coming out of the fog of feeling like although I was walking towards where God told me to go, that things were not working on my favor. But yet I see how all along it was all in His plan, it all brought me closer to Him, and everything I didn’t understand, all the hope that was lost was restored. Hope deferred makes the heart sick but when it comes it’s a tree of life. I am reminded of those times and that verse that continued to pull me out of the trenches of depression and sadness. There is a balm in Gilead!

  47. Julia Reed says:

    I feel a different kind of grief in the season of life I’m in. My sister is giving her second child up for adoption this fall. Knowing that there’s two of my family out there that I’ll never have the chance to know breaks my heart. I’m grieving the relationships that we never had the chance to have. And grieving for my sisters who has two sweet babies that she may never see again. This gives me hope that there will be a day of healing.

  48. Maggie Parrish says:

    ❤️

  49. Christy says:

    Thought y’all might want to hear a beautiful rendition of this hymn. Enjoy the peacefulness of the music that echoes the Scriptures today. Praise the Lord for help, hope, and healing.
    https://youtu.be/8fcMxI_6xsk

    1. PamC says:

      Thank you for sharing. That was beautiful.

    2. EarlyBird says:

      Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing. The old hymns truly speak to my spirit; they are so rich in worship and Truth. I miss hearing them and will listen along through this study.

  50. Rachel Bialoskurski says:

    So the story today resonates with me so well. I lost my grandmother in November before I graduated in December from nursing school. And man have we cried over little things like the dressing not tasting just right at thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter. But Praise be to God that Jesus sustains. I miss her everyday. I want to call her more now than ever before. But Jesus is so so kind in those moments speaking to my heart that he is enough for my hurting heart.

  51. Jennifer Jones says:

    The last year and a half of my life has been filled with grief. I lost my mom at 57 last year to colon cancer. Six months later my husband left. Now, six months after that, my grandma, at 82, is dying of colon AND lung cancer. My grandpa won’t be far behind her either, as they can’t live without one another and you can just SEE his heart breaking. This devotional couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time. I NEEDED it.

    1. Kristin Barry says:

      Colon cancer is awful. My sister and Dad died from it too. I feel your pain, and am so sorry you are going through this. Praying for you today. ❤️

  52. Amanda Hayes says:

    I’m currently living the nightmare of my 57 year old mother dying from dementia. Most days she doesn’t know who I am… I struggle so much with being angry and bitter… but oh how I needed this today. ❤️

    1. Jamie AnnNorton says:

      Amanda, that makes my heart ache for you. I just prayed for you and your mother and hope you find peace that passes understanding.

    2. Taylor says:

      Oh Amanda, I am so sorry. Praying for you and your mother this morning.

    3. Carol Statella says:

      Love with you, Amanda. I know a similar loss. Praying for you right now.❤️

    4. Christen Latour says:

      Amanda, it’s okay to be angry, that’s part of grieving. It’s a gift to be able feel; even when it’s anger. My daughter was shaken by my then husband at six weeks old. She survived but her mental capacity stopped at a 2 month olds, she doesn’t know who I am. Forgive yourself the anger towards the dementia, your mother, God even if that’s where the hurting is (He understands). Understand that anger in this situation is a cover for pain and frustration and forgive yourself for it. When it’s time you’ll forgive the cause of your hurt, too.

    5. Dorothy says:

      Amanda I have worked with dementia residents in my nursing career and early onset is the hardest to deal with. Let me say this and I know it will be hard but enjoy the time together even if it is her world. Remember the good times you had together and make new memories. I don’t mean to sound insensitive but I have seen too many times where families shut the loved one out due to the dementia and I can tell that you wouldn’t want to do that. I will be praying for you. Remember what my father told me when my oldest son died and youngest son started to have problems with drugs that God will only give you as much as you can handle and take it to God. Let God and let go.

  53. Lyndsey Bell says:

    For me, this grief comes when a friend does something to hurt me or when I feel abandoned by the people I thought would never leave me. In those moments, I struggle to hold on to Christ because the pain just feels like too much. But it’s important for me to remember that I can’t heal from that pain myself, but rather…I need the healing of my Heavenly Father.

    1. Karla MiltonHaynes says:

      HE will never abandon YOU!!!!

  54. Churchmouse says:

    Jeremiah is overwhelmed with grief. He is doubled over. He cannot stand beneath its weight. His joy – long gone. His grief – a heavy sackcloth. His heart – heaving, a soul deep sickness. He asks what so many of us have asked when we are brought down low: “Is the Lord no longer _________?” We each fill in the blank. Is the Lord no longer present? Is the Lord no longer caring? Is the Lord no longer seeing? Is the Lord no longer good? Is the Lord no longer just? Jeremiah is broken. Not by his own circumstance but also by the brokenness of his nation. His sorrow is both personal and national. The darkness is pervasive. The light seems so distant. He mourns. Fear is overtaking him. He cries, as some of us have cried, “Is there no __________?” Is there no healer? Is there no way out? Is there no one who cares? Is there no one who will help? Is there no God? Jeremiah doesn’t stop there – he asks why? Why hasn’t the healing come, why hasn’t circumstances changed? Jeremiah and his nation, like us and our nation, needs reminded that there IS a deliverer, a savior, a redeemer, a champion, an advocate. His name is JESUS. Cry out, Jeremiah. Cry out, Israel. Cry out, Churchmouse. Cry out, America. Rend your garments in repentance. Then throw off your sackcloth. Be confident that though you do not always see Him, He sees you and He. Is. Being. God. And that is enough to know. He is the answer to the questions.

    1. Terry says:

      Churchmouse, cry out America…indeed.

    2. Jena says:

      Yes. All of this. So good!!

    3. Dorothy says:

      One of the popular Christian singers sings asking (I am paraphrasing because I can’t remember the exact words) why not you God, why don’t You do something God then it goes on and says God said I sent you then it describes how we can help with world strife. It’s one of my favorites because of the message it sends.

      1. Sherry Reed says:

        Matthew West “Do Something” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b_RjndG0IX8

  55. Lindsey Bailey says:

    There are hurts so deep, losses so great and pain so excruciating that only this healing balm can bring comfort. There is so much hurt and pain in this world. So much that has gone wrong. You are our comforter, Lord.

  56. Carol Pierce says:

    Grief is precipitated by many circumstances in this life. We lose loved ones through death, estrangement, separation, divorce. Can not begin to comprehend how people experience grief without Christ. There truly is a balm in Gilead.

    1. Dorothy says:

      You are so right about experiencing grief through many circumstances I not only lost my father due to heart problems, I lost my mother to a car accident and my oldest son to drowning but before all of that I went through a divorce. I do know what grief is all about in many circumstances.

  57. Vanessa Chandler says:

    I lost my gran a few weeks ago and the content of this really spoke to me and reminded me that we do have a balm to heal our grief, our sickness all of it. Praise the Lord!

  58. Eliza Bulz says:

    I love the encouragement in these verses that Jesus is my soother like a balm for my soul I’ve been through a hard time of deep sorrow. While I had faith I could not fully surrender to God until recently Lord help me sharpen my belief everyday and keep to Your way

    1. Dorothy says:

      I have been there too