Comfort in grief
Category : Lent Devotions
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
There is an illusion in the minds of many believers that being a Christian exempts us from affliction, suffering and even loss. However God doesn’t promise us a pain-free life when we come to Him, but rather a life of hope in the midst of pain.
Being a Christian doesn’t change what we go through, but it should change how we go through the situation in life. It changes our attitude and mindset such that our question isn’t “Lord, why all this affliction?” but “Lord, what is the purpose of this affliction?”
After the loss of my dad, God taught me a few lessons which I believe could be helpful for us when facing grief and sorrow:
1. Nothing happens to God’s children without His permission. He is never taken unawares by what is happening in our lives because He absolutely controls the universe. Therefore, this understanding in times of grief can bring us to a state of unconditional surrender to God’s sovereignty where we’re challenged to say along with Job, “ The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21) and… “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15).
2. God truly fills every void in us. He takes care of us practically and guides us lovingly when we fully trust in Him. Sometimes we may not truly experience the fatherly nature of God simply because we depend too much on our earthly father, but when we go through such loss we are able to experience a deeper dimension of God as our loving Father.
3. God redefines our priorities in life. He makes us realise that the true value of life isn’t in longevity but in fruitfulness; not in the wealth and property procured but in fulfilling His purpose on the earth. We learn to be more focused on eternal things and to invest more in the wellbeing of our soul and the souls of others.
In conclusion, seasons of grief may last a long time, the pain can be excruciating, but when we allow God to carry us through these seasons in His loving arms, then they could turn out to be landmarks in our journey with God.
Lord, in times of grief, help me to find comfort in your sovereignty and to be strengthened by your unfailing love. Amen.