Loss: Encouragement After Losing a Loved One to AddictionSample

Losing a loved one to the impact of addiction is one of the deepest pains we can ever feel. The helplessness and grief can threaten to overwhelm us, but one thing we can always be thankful for—if we can open our eyes long enough to see it—is that God is always with us.

It is often in these darkest times when God reveals Himself in unexpected and amazing ways, through little signs of God’s presence we can refer to as “God winks.”

As we journey through the next few days together, navigating the loss of a loved one to addiction, we’re going to keep our eyes open for some of these “God winks.” You’ll hear directly from parents who lost their own children to addiction and their stories of “God winks” in the midst of their own loss.

How do these “God winks” occur? The experience of those of us at Hope After Loss find God revealing Himself in three different ways: in nature, through scripture/prayer, and through special signs. Let’s take a look at all three.

When it comes to nature, we read in Psalm 19 that “the heavens declare the glory of God” and “the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Have you experienced God through nature? Has He used His creation to speak comfort and peace to you? If so, in what ways has He done that? If not, are your eyes open to this kind of “God wink”?

In Psalm 119:105, we see that God’s word “is a lamp to [our] feet and a light to [our] path.” There is often great comfort to be found in scripture (which is probably why you’re engaging with this scripture reading plan!). In another Psalm (102:17), we are encouraged that God “will respond to the prayer of the destitute” and that “He will not despise their plea.”

Prayer and scripture. These are key places where we can look for “God winks” in the midst of loss. Have you heard from God directly in either of these areas? Has God ever given you a special verse at the time when you needed it most? Has He laid something on your heart when you were spending time with Him in prayer?

And then there are special signs. Throughout the Bible, God uses special ways to communicate with His people. Sometimes through angels, sometimes through dreams, sometimes through working miracles, like in the book of Acts when Paul has a vision that sends their missionary journey into a new territory and almost immediately gets them locked up. But even in the prison, God was with them and led them to a miraculous release.

God doesn’t always work so overtly, and today He seems to speak more subtly, but He still reveals Himself to His people in special ways. Though we must be careful not to misinterpret things or make God out to be something He isn’t, we still encounter times when we just know God has orchestrated events especially for us. These are very powerful moments, times of blessing when we have assurance of God’s presence and provision.

Reflect on the past. When are some times you’ve experienced God working in this special, supernatural way?

God is with you in the midst of your loss. If you have trouble holding on to anything, hold on to that truth: He will not leave you nor forsake you. He is here for you. He has been there for others, and He will be here for you.