If you’ve been following this blog for any period of time, you’re familiar with my ocean and “floatie” posts from the past 8-9 months.
For a quick review, I talked about a time in my ministry when I felt like I was swimming in the ocean with no sight of shoreline ahead or behind me … but I kept swimming. Then when God called me to take a “ministry break,” I felt like I was on that same ocean, but now relaxing on an adorable pink flamingo floatie. But then as I became weary of the wait, that lovely floatie became a bit more tainted.
Ove the past few months, God has brought several opportunities into my life that indicate he is asking me to step back into the ministry he called me to four years ago. I’m going to retire that floatie image for now because it has served its purpose.
I’m not rushing headlong into this next phase, nor am I taking things up just where I left them in July of last year. My prayer is that I will thoughtfully, purposefully and with clear direction from God, step back into the opportunities he presents to me.
So with that “non-fanfare-ish” announcement, I want to share with you a truth I was reminded of this past weekend.
I had the privilege of speaking to a group of women at a local church about everyone’s favorite topic – grief! Well, maybe not favorite, but I believe it’s a topic near to countless hearts right now.
I know this isn’t a brand-new revelation, but it affected me profoundly, even though my ministry is all about grief. What I realized, once again, is how so many (most?) of us are struggling with some deep hurts. So I’d like to break down that reality a bit and see how we can still find truths and instruction from God through this.
What brought this reality to my forefront again was the number of women who talked with me during and after the retreat, sharing their stories of absolute heartbreak. Many women there were also widows, some struggling mightily not just with THAT loss, but with the additional heartbreak of family members causing incredible grief on top of an already unbearable load.
Others had lost young grandchildren unexpectedly. And yet, I saw a connection between two grieving grandmothers as one reached out to minister to the one with the most recent loss. It brought me to tears then, and it brings me to tears now.
In some cases, women had experienced back-to-back-to-back losses that must have felt like the relentless pounding of powerful waves against their “heart rocks.” Others struggled with regrets or guilt after losing loved ones, feeling that there was something more, or something different they could have done.
In some ways I felt overwhelmed by the totality of all their broken hearts. And yet, THIS is the ministry into which God has called me, so I want to remind all of us (myself included) of the truths of God still evident despite what so often looks like hopeless and desperate situations. if you want to delve deeper into what the Bible says about theses truths, click on the scripture references in each bullet point.
This I know:
- God does his best and most permanent work in our lives through our trials. I know you’ve heard this from me A LOT! I know it’s true because, not only have I lived it, but because I’ve seen this truth displayed in the countless grievers I’ve met through this ministry and beyond. Let him do this transforming work in your life. (Romans 5:2-5, 2 Timothy 3:12)
- God’s character and promises NEVER change. While I know it doesn’t always feel like that is true, we must never allow our emotions to overrule what God’s Word tells us. All the power and sovereignty and compassion and patience and love that God personifies are there for us throughout our struggles. (Hebrews 13:8, Isaiah 40:8)
- God walks with us on these difficult journeys. He’s not a distant God, hanging out in heaven and watching our heartache from afar. If you’re a believer, God’s Holy Spirit is dwelling inside of you and is on this journey with you, step by painful step. (Romans 8:26, Deuteronomy 31:6)
- God sets everything right again. It wasn’t in God’s original perfect plan for this fallen world to be full of heartache and suffering. But through Jesus’ death on the cross for OUR sins and this world’s fallenness, perfect fellowship with God WILL be restored. (John 16:33, 1 Corinthians 2:9)
- We CAN experience joy in spite of, and because of, our trials. Our suffering is real. Let’s not deny that. Jesus didn’t. But let’s also know, without a shadow of a doubt, that God can still bless us as he molds us into more Christ-like followers, and as we see him using our pain to minister comfort to others. (James 1:2-3, 2 Corinthians 4:17)
- We are called to extend kindness, grace, mercy, comfort, and compassion to others. We’ve heard this before – EVERYONE is grieving something. It’s truer than we want to believe. So when someone cuts you off in traffic, or treats you rudely at a store, or yells at you for no apparent reason, or accuses you unfairly, remind yourself that they might be going through one of the most difficult seasons of their lives. Back to my country music roots, and quoting Tim McGraw, “Always be humble and kind.” It’s great advice for all of us. (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:12)
In closing, I want to remind us that we are all in this together. I don’t say that as a cliché, but as an encouragement that, as the body of Christ, we are to hold each other up as we walk through this life with all its beauty AND heartache.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12
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