Some things are too hard to swallow no matter how you try to disguise them.
Losing a child is one of them.
I have been a student of the Bible for decades-I take Scripture seriously, believe it with my whole heart and trust that the truth it contains is necessary and sufficient for this life and the life to come. But when Dominic died, I found I was forced to look again at verses I thought I understood.
Read the rest here: Waiting for the Holy Words to Fall Inside
So many of us are finding it difficult to face a new year without our missing child.
Sometimes we wonder, “Where is God? ” and “Why MY child?”.
I believe that God invites us to ask our hard questions. It’s not like we can hide them from Him anyway. When we speak them aloud, we open our hearts to the healing power of His Spirit.
❤
For most of my adult years I felt like I had a robust prayer life. I regularly interceded for my family, for my church, for missionaries and for the world. I’ve kept a prayer journal for over twenty years.
I felt connected to the God of the Universe.
But when Dominic died I felt like I lost that connection.
Read the rest here: Prayer and Questions
Maybe what God has for me and others who suffer long is not a victorious tag line that can be slapped on a photo or shared on social media.
Maybe it’s only in the continued press of suffering that God reveals Himself in ways the non-suffering never see.
Maybe a dash to declare victory is actually rushing past what God has for us in deep pain and ongoing struggle.
Maybe waiting in hopeful expectation for what God is doing and will do in me and through me IS the victory.
Read the rest here: Not Ashamed to Wait
Yes, “all things work together for good for those that love the Lord” but not all things ARE good.
My son’s death is not a test, a lesson, a trial nor a hammer in the hand of God sent to pound me into the shape He desires for me.
It is an evil that He can and is using for good.
Read the rest here: Grief is Not a Hammer in the Hand of God
I originally shared this post when I was only a bit past two years into life after loss. It’s still a pretty good list of what helps and what hurts my heart.
The only thing that I’d say NOW versus THEN is this: Most days are better days (seven years down the road) than hard ones. Oh, there are still terrible, terrible days when grief washes over me like a flood. But many, many days include joy, laughter, a renewed sense of purpose and lots and lots of love.
I’m so thankful for God’s mercy and grace and for His steadfast love. Without that-without Him-I would not have made it this far.
❤ Melanie
I am committed to continue to trust Jesus and to look to the Word of God for my hope and direction in this life and in the one to come.
I speak truth to my heart through Scripture, worship songs, testimonies of others who have gone before and by remaining in community with other believers.
But I’ve yet to reach the place where I can plan on most days being better days rather than hard ones.
I’m trying.
And I’m working to tease out the influences that make a difference-both the ones that help and the ones that hurt.
So here’s the list so far:
Read the rest here: What Helps and What Hurts
I love to read familiar verses in different translations or paraphrases.
It helps my heart hear what I might otherwise miss because familiarity DOES breed a form a contempt even when considering the Word of God.
Recently, on my way through verses on HOPE I copied out Lamentations 3: 19-26.
A couple of the verses are ones most of us have seen or heard often:
But back up a little bit, and read it in a different version ( the VOICE) and it takes on even greater meaning for those of us walking in the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
Read the rest here: New Mercies
Last year during the month of August I joined with others and participated in a Scripture Writing Challenge.
We committed together to read and write out short passages on grief every day.
I wrote companion posts and shared them.
Circumstances have prevented me from doing another in-depth study again this year but I thought it would be nice to collect the entries from last August in a weekly bundle and put them out there for anyone who might want to revisit them or try it for the first time.
So here’s the third week’s links (including how to set up a journal):
Setting up your journal and link to all the verses: August Scripture Journal Challenge: Verses on Grief
Day 15: http://Scripture Journal Challenge: Distant Music
Day 16: Scripture Journal Challenge: God Sees You. You Are Not Alone.
Day 17: Scripture Journal Challenge: My Good Shepherd
Day 18: Scripture Journal Challenge: Keep Me Near
Day 19: Scripture Journal Challenge: Tears Won’t Last Forever
Day 20: Scripture Journal Challenge: The God Who Comes Near
Day 21: Scripture Journal Challenge: Perfect Peace
It takes a bit of work and commitment to do this so I understand some hearts may not be in a place where that is possible.
But if you’ve missed feeding your soul with the Word of God this is an easy way to get back into the habit.
❤
Day 15:
Last year during the month of August I joined with others and participated in a Scripture Writing Challenge.
We committed together to read and write out short passages on grief every day.
I wrote companion posts and shared them.
Circumstances have prevented me from doing another in-depth study again this year but I thought it would be nice to collect the entries from last August in a weekly bundle and put them out there for anyone who might want to revisit them or try it for the first time.
So here’s the first week’s links (including how to set up a journal):
Setting up your journal and link to all the verses: August Scripture Journal Challenge: Verses on Grief
Day 8: Scripture Journal Challenge: Earth Has No Sorrow That Heaven Can’t Heal
Day 9: Scripture Journal Challenge: When I Can’t Trace His Hand I Trust His Heart
Day 10: Scripture Journal Challenge: Worn Out and Weary? Jesus Understands.
Day 11: Scripture Journal Challenge: A Living Hope
Day 12: Scripture Journal Challenge: The One I Run To
Day 13: Scripture Journal Challenge: My Righteous, Raging King!
Day 14: Scripture Journal Challenge: Suffering and Safe Places
It takes a bit of work and commitment to do this so I understand some hearts may not be in a place where that is possible.
But if you’ve missed feeding your soul with the Word of God this is an easy way to get back into the habit.
❤
Last year during the month of August I joined with others and participated in a Scripture Writing Challenge.
We committed together to read and write out short passages on grief every day.
I wrote companion posts and shared them.
Circumstances have prevented me from doing another in-depth study again this year but I thought it would be nice to collect the entries from last August in a weekly bundle and put them out there for anyone who might want to revisit them or try it for the first time.
So here’s the first week’s links (including how to set up a journal):
Setting up your journal and link to verses: August Scripture Journal Challenge: Verses on Grief
Day 1: Scripture Journal Challenge: Life Everlasting
Day 2: Scripture Journal Challenge: Unshaken and Unshakeable
Day 3: Scripture Journal Challenge: Sufficient Grace
Day 4: Scripture Journal Challenge: When My Heart Needs a Reminder
Day 5: Scripture Journal Challenge: Safe In My Daddy’s Arms
Day 6: Scripture Journal Challenge: Between A Rock And A Hard Place
Day 7: Scripture Journal Challenge: My Groom Is Coming To Get Me!
It takes a bit of work and commitment to do this so I understand some hearts may not be in a place where that is possible.
But if you’ve missed feeding your soul with the Word of God this is an easy way to get back into the habit.
❤
I have written many times of my habit of greeting each new day watching the sun come up through my east facing living room window.
It never gets old.
I cherish the reminder that despite how difficult things may be or how dark my heart might feel, God is still on His throne.
As the shadows fade and light pours through the window and illuminates the world outside, I remember that no night lasts forever and death doesn’t win.
It’s not always easy to choose life, Lord
Because then we have to struggle with who we are
and why we are, and who you are,
and what to do with who we are,
and why we are,and who you are.
We have to let you make us new, and being made anything always hurts.
Father,
Let the morning come in our hearts,
So morning can come in our lives,
And the world that needs a word of hope can hear
‘Death has lost, and life has won.”
Verdell Davis, Riches Stored in Secret Places
It IS painful to be made into anything.
And sometimes I resist.
But then the morning comes and once again I choose to yield my heart to the One who loves me best and is molding and making me more like Jesus.
❤
thelifeididntchoose 