Weekly Magazine | Walking with God Through Grief and Loss
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Dear Friends,
Loss comes to all of us in one form or another, and when it does, it changes us. Whether it’s the passing of someone we love, the loss of a dream, or a season that looks different than we had hoped, grief can leave us feeling uncertain and adrift. Yet Scripture reminds us that we never walk through sorrow alone. God is near in every moment and every struggle, gently holding us as we experience the pain of what’s been taken and the longing for what once was.
In this issue, we reflect on what it means to grieve with God. He understands our tears and helps us walk beside others in their pain. He can even help us to see how gratitude can quietly grow despite seasons of mourning. We hope that you will find comfort and a reminder that even in loss, love endures, and God is there holding you through every part of your story.
Encouraging You in God’s Truth,
The Road of Grief | Lisa C. Whitaker
When Lisa lost her mother, she began a journey through the depths of sorrow and the heart of God. Through Scripture, she discovered that grief endures not because we are weak, but because love is strong—and that God Himself grieves with us.
Companioning Through Grief and Loss | Laura Johnson
Grieving hearts need more than quick fixes or advice—they need companions. Laura offers biblical and practical wisdom for walking with others through loss, reminding us that God uses our own experiences of grief to comfort and strengthen others.
Can Grief and Gratitude Co-Exist? | Dyann Shepard
As Dyann cared for her husband through his decline with Alzheimer’s, she discovered that grief and gratitude can dwell side by side. Her story is a testimony to the sustaining power of God’s love and presence, even in heartbreaking seasons.
Also:
The NIV Journal the Word® Bible allows you to creatively express yourself every day with room for notes or verse art next to your favorite verses. Each Bible features thick cream-colored paper with lightly ruled lines in the extra-wide margins, perfect to reflect on God’s Word and enhance your study.
The Road of Grief
Following God Through Love into Healing.
By: Lisa C. Whitaker
It has been almost a year since having to say goodbye to my confidante, my friend, my mom. When once I heard her voice just about every other day, now it is silence. So many times, I’ve wanted to pick up the phone and call her to tell her some exciting news or to talk things over with her when I am feeling overwhelmed. I have even caught myself punching in her number to call before realizing that I can’t.
I have heard it said that “Grief is our consolation for loving deeply” and whoever said this must be right, for the love I shared with my mother ran deep. Perhaps this is why, a year later, the tears still come at the most unexpected times. My mom loved Christmas. One day, it was while I was perusing the fall decorations in Hobby Lobby. I rounded the corner of an isle and there were the Christmas decorations. We had our first Christmas without her last year, but looking through the various ornaments and knowing I will celebrate another Christmas without her soon stirred my heart once again.
What is it about grief that makes it stick around for so long? Why can’t we just make a decision to be done grieving and move on? These questions have passed through my thoughts many times since saying goodbye to my mom. They have driven me to look to Scripture to find the answers. It is there, at the very beginning, that I began to understand the answer to these questions.
