Do you ever wish your grief would have an end?
Grief, the sadness we feel with loss, will it ever go away? You did not chose grief; it choose you. If we view grief as a journey without a specific destination, we come to the conclusion that grief cannot be hurried with no precise end date. However, this unplanned journey takes us to places we never thought we would go-loneliness, fear, anger, insecurity, sadness and regret.
Unplanned journey takes us to places we never thought we would go.
When I think of grief, I have an image of walking through a valley with turns and downward slopes. Maybe you feel you are in a valley when you lost someone you loved, or lost a job, or lost a dream or endured a divorce. The valley can be dark and full of despair. Because our path on this journey is unique, we can feel alone and devastated.
God gives us a promise when we walk through the valley. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid for you are close beside me”. Psalm 23:4
This verse acknowledges that we walk through valleys-dark valleys. Some older translations of this verse use the wording, “valley of the shadow of death,” which recognizes the sadness in the valley.
While we walk through a valley, we can know God is with us. “I will not be afraid for you are close beside me.”
The Good Shepherd walks beside us to guide and protect. We may not sense God, but God sees us, hears us, know us and walks with us in the shadowy places of sorrow. The companionship of the Shepherd can comfort us, knowing we are not alone.
The Good Shepherd walks beside us to guide and protect.
Some days, the sun will go back behind the clouds but other days the sun will stream in offering hope. A friend may sit with us or offer a listening ear, an encouraging quote may give courage or a memory of a loved bring sweet peace. Unknown to us as we walk in the valley, healing may come. Healing, too, is a process-a journey.
The author of Healing After Loss: Daily Mediations for Working Through Grief, Martha Whitmore Hickman, calls the journey a walk of recovery. “As I walk this walk of recovery, I will take my time. I will be alert to the road signs. I will watch for other travelers of the way who may need my help, as I need theirs.”
We may be able to offer hope to another traveler.
Hold on, dear friend, you are not alone on your journey. The Good Shepherd is with you.
