Hope in the Middle of Grief
While the holiday season is often called "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," it can be a difficult time for many. The absence of loved ones, the feeling of loneliness, pain, and grief, can often be felt more acutely during this season, but there is always Hope in Jesus.
Grief can come in many forms, at any time, and to anyone. It is no respecter of persons, and sometimes we don't even know we are grieving. While it is often associated with losing someone or something, grief can be brought on by any kind of change, and we've all been through change.
JOURNAL: Think back over the last few years. How many things have changed in that time? How have you handled it? Have you pushed past your emotions to pretend everything's ok?
Even if you've only been part of Opendoor for a short time, you've most likely heard us make this statement: It's ok to not be ok, but we won't stay that way. It’s ok to grieve in seasons of change.
Matthew 5:4 NLT says, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
God blesses those who mourn and even promises to walk with us through it. He's not ashamed of our feelings, but we have to prepare our hearts to receive by abiding in Him. When we try to skip a step in the process, we rob ourselves of the true joy and comfort that awaits us on the other side.
We all go through difficult seasons, and no one is a stranger to sorrow. But there is Hope.
Hope is available to us today through the presence of God living inside of us. As believers, we will still go through seasons of grief. We don't get a free pass just because we believe, but where we anchor our hope determines our response.
How often has grief shaken us to the core and made us question our faith and God's love for us? The presence of pain doesn't mean the absence of God, but sometimes we feel and act like He's abandoned us. We've placed our hope in the outcome, not in the One who knows what's best. By anchoring our hope in the Truth, current circumstances cannot shake us.
Psalms 19:14 NKJV says, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."
I'll be the first to admit I don't always feel like proclaiming His Truth when things don't turn out the way I had hoped. Worship can be hard in the middle of grief. We have to build a strong foundation by declaring Truth no matter what we feel so that our emotions begin to align with God's Word instead of our truth aligning with our emotions.
My prayer is that God would breathe His Hope into you today no matter what season you are facing.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, my thoughts and feelings often betray me, but Your Word is forever true. I invite you into the weak places of my life to give me strength. Grant me patience when I grow weary and joy in the waiting. Teach me to trust that You know what's best. May I always have faith that you're walking beside me. Anchor my hope in You.
Grief can come in many forms, at any time, and to anyone. It is no respecter of persons, and sometimes we don't even know we are grieving. While it is often associated with losing someone or something, grief can be brought on by any kind of change, and we've all been through change.
JOURNAL: Think back over the last few years. How many things have changed in that time? How have you handled it? Have you pushed past your emotions to pretend everything's ok?
Even if you've only been part of Opendoor for a short time, you've most likely heard us make this statement: It's ok to not be ok, but we won't stay that way. It’s ok to grieve in seasons of change.
Matthew 5:4 NLT says, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
God blesses those who mourn and even promises to walk with us through it. He's not ashamed of our feelings, but we have to prepare our hearts to receive by abiding in Him. When we try to skip a step in the process, we rob ourselves of the true joy and comfort that awaits us on the other side.
We all go through difficult seasons, and no one is a stranger to sorrow. But there is Hope.
Hope is available to us today through the presence of God living inside of us. As believers, we will still go through seasons of grief. We don't get a free pass just because we believe, but where we anchor our hope determines our response.
How often has grief shaken us to the core and made us question our faith and God's love for us? The presence of pain doesn't mean the absence of God, but sometimes we feel and act like He's abandoned us. We've placed our hope in the outcome, not in the One who knows what's best. By anchoring our hope in the Truth, current circumstances cannot shake us.
Psalms 19:14 NKJV says, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."
I'll be the first to admit I don't always feel like proclaiming His Truth when things don't turn out the way I had hoped. Worship can be hard in the middle of grief. We have to build a strong foundation by declaring Truth no matter what we feel so that our emotions begin to align with God's Word instead of our truth aligning with our emotions.
My prayer is that God would breathe His Hope into you today no matter what season you are facing.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, my thoughts and feelings often betray me, but Your Word is forever true. I invite you into the weak places of my life to give me strength. Grant me patience when I grow weary and joy in the waiting. Teach me to trust that You know what's best. May I always have faith that you're walking beside me. Anchor my hope in You.
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