Comfort and Love in Grief

When facing grief we are told that we will feel different stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I used to think that we only feel grief when facing the passing of someone. until I spoke with my counselor, who explained to me that we can feel grief even when no one has passed. We can feel grief when something grand has changed in our lives such as: losing a job, a change in social setting, moving, or ending a chapter in your life that you didn’t want to end. All of these things can trigger us to start grieving, without us noticing. The reason it's important for us to know this is because when we see ourselves going through this process of emotions it's important that we bring God into our lives and ask him how we should handle these big emotions. 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. 

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” 

John 14:27 

For the past five months, my family has been going through all the different stages of grief, as a result of discovering that my mother has cancer. It's hard seeing the woman who raised you shut down and day after day hear her cry out to God for help out of fear of losing it all. I witness the struggles my father has with accepting that this is our new reality, he's stubborn in denial. I see how my sister sits in anger, angry that this is completely out of our control. As for myself, I am bargaining with God asking him to double-check this situation, that if my family and I behave better, this will all go away. We're struggling to accept that this is our new now, our new life, our new perspective. We're grieving, we're grieving over the life we knew before this discovery.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted 

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

“Psalm 34:18: 

In moments like this others may question the calmness I have, but I know my God is greater than any illnesses we face on this earth. There is nothing that is too far gone that he can't fix. I believe that it is through suffering that we can be closer to God, for it is in that moment where we cling more to God, Like a literal child holding tight to their parents during a scary situation. being His children, we are able to give all our denial, anger, depression, bargaining, and hard acceptance to Him. I know He hears our prayers and that he sees our suffering. God has a plan and I'm trusting that He will provide exactly what my family needs. It is within him where I find comfort and true love.

“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; 

I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”

Jeremiah 33: 6