Over the last seven days, we have looked at ways that we can move forward with our grief. Grieving is hard work. The loss of a loved one changes us. I will never be the same person that I was on October 28, 2013. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; however, I do want to make sure that I am living well and learning to find joy again.
“Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds.” James 1:2
I have wrestled a lot with this scripture. I didn’t find it joyful at all that my son died. After he died, I wasn’t even sure if I would ever want to be happy again.
How do we find joy in trials? In the beginning, I wondered if I would ever even smile again. If there would ever be a reason to smile again. I remember the first time I laughed after Joshua died. I felt such deep guilt. How could I laugh? My son was gone. But he really isn’t. I know exactly where he is.
King David understood when he lost his son. 2 Samuel 12:23, “But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
Joshua will not return to this earth, but one day I will go where he is, and we will be together for eternity. That’s where I find joy. In knowing that he is safely tucked away where satan can’t get to him.
And because of that, I have begun to find joy in other things as well. I find joy in the memories we had with him and in the memories his friends have shared with us. We know of two of his friends who have given their lives to Christ in baptism since Joshua’s death. We are overjoyed about that. We know he planted many seeds, and we may not know this side of Heaven how many others know Jesus because of him.
In the midst of all of this, I am so grateful for a loving and faithful God who promises to walk with us each step of the way.
“You hem me in behind and before, and You lay your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5
When I first read that scripture, I thought, “God didn’t hem in Joshua. He allowed him to die. He didn’t hem us in. We are devastated. Why didn’t He protect us?” That scripture doesn’t say that God protects us from bad things. God didn’t create a puppet theater. He isn’t a marionette master. We live in a fallen world. Terrible things happen to good people.
In this passage, David recognizes that God is always with us, to offer us comfort, peace and healing. He walks each difficult path with us. We are not alone. He surrounds us. He goes before us and behind us. God promises us that He will never leave nor forsake us. And when our race is run, He offers us an eternal home in Heaven. I cling to His promises.
So what have I learned from GRIEF? My friend Lynne captured it so well:
God
Really
Is
Eternally
Faithful
It is truly possible to find joy in the midst of the mourning. We have to seek it. We have to choose it. It doesn’t just happen on its own. We have to be intentional about it. And God will be right there with us every step of the way.
How have you found joy in the midst of your mourning?
With Eyes on the Cross 