Grace for the Grieving: Three Lessons from Loss
by Baylee Dunn
I remember it as if it were yesterday, though it has been several months since God called my grandfather home after a long, hard-fought battle with stage four cancer. It felt like the world around me was crumbling as I got the news. “Baylee, Popa passed away tonight.” I lay still on the brown leather couch in our living room, clinching a blanket with both hands, praying that I was in a dream.
Instead, it was a reality. A man whom I loved with every ounce of my being had breathed his last and ascended into Heaven. Grief rushed in like roaring floodwaters on that dark March night. Tears rushed down my face in a torrential downpour. My body shook violently as I sobbed. Thoughts came spiraling through my mind. “He’s going to miss my college graduation. He will not be there to dance at my wedding one day. I will never hear him sing “Happy Birthday” with the passion and style of Elvis Presley again.”
So much loss…
At that moment, I could not imagine a world without him in it. To be honest, I still have a hard time with each passing milestone. Though my grandfather is in Heaven, my heart aches for him here on Earth. It is an ache that I know will not easily fade. I will carry it with me through each of my days. There will be sorrow, there will be sadness, but with God, I will move toward gladness.
Three lessons that I have learned from my season of grief
Here are three lessons that I have learned from my season of grief. I pray that my words encourage you to cling to the Lord, even when it is hard. If you are grieving today, know that there is grace for you in that sacred space, friend. May the Lord hold you close, draw you near, and remind you that even in suffering, He is still here.
- In times of sorrow, the Lord may feel distant. However, He is ever-present.
The Bible tells us that the Lord is close to the broken-hearted. With His nearness, comes the peace that only he can provide. He will hold you, dry your tears, and give gentle reminders that He is still here.
- Where there is deep grief, there is great love.
When experiencing loss, it can sometimes feel as if the sadness is impossible to release. It runs deep. If ever you find yourself deep in grief, remember that the Lord will sustain you. You are loved in this space, too.
- Where there is hurt, there is a healer. No grief is too big for God’s grace to cover.
One of the most comforting promises to cling to during a season of grief is that which is found in Revelation 21:4-5. I pray that this passage encourages you to focus on the Lord during hardship. He will heal your hurt and hold you upright.
“4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Be blessed, friends!
Baylee Dunn
If you enjoyed this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media. Also, I love mentoring Baylee and having her guest post for me. She is such a joy! Speaking of joy, you may also enjoy my recent By His Grace podcast with the author of Joykeeper: 6 Truths that Change Everything You Thought You Knew About Joy, Suzanne Eller. Check out the episode Joy in Jesus.
Much Love, Misty
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