Trusting God During Grief

Several years ago, more than 10 close family members, friends, co-workers, and ministry team members died in less than 24 months. It was a difficult time. At times, the grief was tremendous and, in my exhaustion, all I could do was cry out to God. The psalmist David shared a similar experience as he lamented, 

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress, my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing. (Psalm 31:9-10 ESV)

During this time, I began to wonder how long my season of grief would last. As I walked through my mourning, I asked God to lead me and be my strength as I processed my emotions and slowly moved forward with my life, dreams, and goals. The words of the psalmist David once again echoed my own experience as he wrote, 

For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me. (Psalm 31:3) 

Often the Lord would lead me to Scriptures, and even to people, who encouraged me through empathetic words, prayers, meals, housework help, and errands. All of this encouraged me to trust in God even more as my healing continued. 

Through my time of grief, I also experienced God’s peace and comfort. As He comforted me, he reassured me through His Word that grief was a normal human reaction to loss. I also came to the realization that losses of many kinds can lead to grief. Whether it is a job loss, a relationship loss, or even the loss of a favorite regular routine (such as many of us experienced during the pandemic), a form of grief often follows. 

Trust God in hard times. Even when times are hard and grief seems to be a constant companion, trusting God is possible. In my time of loss, I chose to trust that God was still with me and still had a glorious plan for my life. As David said in Psalm 31:14, 

But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 

With tears streaming down my cheeks, sometimes I would just whisper, “I trust in You, God.” Those words encouraged me to continue to trust God, and they were also my way of saying to God that I still trusted Him even when I did not understand why I was experiencing such tremendous loss.

May the following prayer encourage you if you find yourself experiencing grief of any kind. 

Dear Lord, please comfort all those who are mourning right now. May they trust in You throughout the grief journey and receive peace as only You can give. May they have glimmers of hope as their soul, heart, mind, and body heal from the effects of grief.

~

Scripture is quoted from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.