I added another name to my calendar yesterday. The calendar I keep to remind myself of the anniversaries of the deaths of people I want to be sure to remember. That makes three additions to that calendar since I added John’s name in January of this year.

Now another family begins the long road of grieving the loss of their precious loved one.

Before John’s physical death, often times after finding out about someone losing a close family member I would feel great sadness for them, pray for them, and serve them as best I could. But eventually my life would continue as it always had.

But life doesn’t continue as it always has for the grieving ones—especially when the one who was lost was such an integral part of the lives left behind.

Working through grief is a long, hard process. Some tell me that after losing a child you will never, ever be the same again. I’m already feeling that truth.

For those who know Jesus, our grief is not the same as those who have no hope. Just as we will see our John again, this family will also see their loved one again.

But in the meantime, our hearts hurt. We miss our loved one terribly. We fight to move forward. We battle in our minds with the what ifs and the should haves. We even at times struggle with our faith.

But of these I am reminded—

The Lord is very near to the brokenhearted. (Psalm 34:18)

His right hand upholds us when our souls cling to Him. (Psalm 63:8)

Our flesh and our hearts fail us, but the Lord never will. (Psalm 73:26)

For the Truth of His promises I am thankful. And His promises have proven true for me.

 

Quoted scripture is from the ESV unless otherwise noted.