Grief in Hope
Grief in Hope
Today I’m sharing on Lisa’s amazingly beautiful and incredibly encouraging website, Hope in Grief. Below you can read an excerpt, but visit Lisa’s site to read the rest of the article.
While living in Honduras we never had all four seasons. It was either hot or hotter. This was a big adjustment for me. I was used to freezing winters and summer heat. My favorite season was Fall because of the colors and crisp, cool air. Changing ministries is often compared to a change of seasons. Sometimes we step away from a ministry because we know God is moving us. The next step is right in front of us and we excitedly move into the new season. Other times seasons change without any warning and this can be so difficult.
After serving for two and half years, our first term as missionaries ended. This was not something we had planned or anticipated. Unexpectedly, the non-profit decided not to renew my husband’s contract. We then had to begin life again in the States and start completely over. This was extremely painful mostly because we weren’t weren’t prepared for it.
The change of a ministry felt less like a change of seasons and more like a loss. All I could think about was what we didn’t have anymore. Grieving the loss of a ministry can be hard, because there might not be closure. Things might go unsaid. Hurts might not be addressed or acknowledged by those doing the hurting. Even when the hurt is real and painful, we do have the ability to grieve with hope.
Tweet ThisOne of the things we did early on in our grief was acknowledge what we didn’t lose. It is always easier to focus on the things that are no longer there. I could make a list of those things and you could too. A counselor helped us remember what we did have. We did not lose everything when we lost the ministry.
What did we NOT lose? Click here to read more.
What grief do you hold in your heart?
Grief comes in so many ways. Whether that is the physical loss of someone, to the loss of a job, a place, or even a relationship. Loss hurts. In the middle of it we feel so alone. No one really understands, or sees us. Sometimes people say the wrong things and do the wrong things while we grieve.
Do you know who really understands? God.
I hope you know that God sees you, loves you, and is compassionate towards you. In fact, His steadfast love never ceases. Download the following free scripture reading plan on loneliness.
You don’t have to feel alone during this season. The purpose of this reading plan is to grow your faith and help keep you consistent in Bible reading. Let’s discover how our solitude doesn’t mean we are alone. Redeeming loneliness is not just realizing we are never alone with God. Redeeming loneliness is embracing isolation. We can choose to redeem our loneliness. Being alone doesn’t have to be painful.
Download this PDF and get:
- Free Reading Plan
- Bible Study Pages
- Prayer Sheets