One thing that is universal to the human experience is loss. It’s a sobering truth that while we are on this earth there is a beginning and an end to everything. Loss strikes in many different
ways—a job, a relationship, the life of a loved one, your influence, your purpose, or simply your ability to do what you once could. Knowing that loss is an inevitable event we all must experience, it’s so critical that we learn how to navigate all the pain, confusion, and frustration that occurs when we lose something or someone. Dealing with loss is a process, and it’s OK to have feelings of grief, hurt, and confusion, but when you dwell on the pain of loss for too long it can monopolize your life and hinder your ability to heal. When we experience loss, an emptiness is created that is proportional to how significant the thing was to us that we lost. Too often we try to fill the emptiness with the wrong stuff. We’ll fill it up with distractions, thinking that the pain will go away if we don’t think about it, but we end up only making our suffering longer. We may try to medicate our emptiness with drugs or alcohol, but we end up making the hole in our lives bigger by the self-destructive nature of substance abuse. We could try to fill the emptiness with revenge and hatred, blaming others for its existence in the first place. The problem with these methods of dealing with loss is that we are running away from our hurt instead of running to God with our hurt. As you hope in God, you don’t have to know how you will make it through, just know that you will—that sometime, somehow, everything will be OK because God is with you. As you lean on God, the emptiness will begin to fade as God’s life, love, and light takes its place.
Scriptures to encourage:
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. —Psalm 34:18 NLT He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds curing their pains and their sorrows.—Psalm 147:3 AMP
Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. —John 14:1 AMP
God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away. —Revelation 21:4 AMP
Quote:
“Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you with grace, strength, courage, and confidence.” —Og Mandino
A Poem by Jake Provance:
There is a great darkness that doesn’t wait for night, A cold, empty void that hides the light. It’s the end to every beginning, Feels as if your enemy is winning.
This cancer of the earth, inescapable since birth. We were not made for death, To feel the pain of love’s last breath,
The sin that brought loss to our homes, Has been forgiven but its child still roams, With its claws sharp but its sting removed, The pain cuts deep but its poison subdued,
You have a daddy above, The purest light named Love, Ready to pierce the void, So you won’t be destroyed
Lean on him and the pain will slowly fade, As the darkness turns to shade, And the hope of tomorrow, Begins to lessen yesterday’s sorrow.
Prayer: Lord, I know you know what loss is like. You lost your most beloved Son, for the sake of gaining me. Strengthen me, Lord. Encourage me, teach me how to look to you when my emotions are running wild, and my heart heavy. I know you love me, I know you are a good God, but Lord, if I’m being honest, what I feel and what I know aren’t lining up right now. Lord, I ask you to heal my heart, fill the gaps of my life left by loss with the hope that is found in You. You are more than enough for every need and every void that I’ve have. Thank you, Lord, for your help. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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