FLOURISH IN LOSS

by Claudia Duff  

Izzy T was our first grandbaby. Though military life kept us far from our adult children, we loved his precious heart the moment we heard the news, “We are having a baby, and it’s a boy!” I counted the days to his birth with more excitement than waiting for the end of a deployment. Then, a few short months later our hearts were crushed and held captive by grief when he died. Grief felt thick as molasses, cold as ice, and thorny as a rose bush. There seemed to be no escape from this tremendous feeling of loss. 

When you suffer the loss of a child not many want to support you outside of Facebook, cards, and emails. It’s a loss most do not want to get close to. Why? Because it’s scary. The possibility of loss is there for anyone, and that makes it scary. If it happened to you, it could happen to me. I don’t want to talk about that or even entertain the thought. When an infant dies, feeling alone and abandoned in grief takes the shape of lost hope. 

However, God is faithful, and He has promised to be with us in the “valley of the shadow of death.” This is the moment when the saints must take their places in the valley with those who are “walking through.” In grief, we need the love and support of family and friends.    

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. —Isaiah 43:2 

God plans for those who believe to stand with those who are grieving. Are you overwhelmed by grief and sorrow? If not, could you help a grieving friend or relative? God often works through people to comfort the hurting. We only need to look in the Bible to discover the strategies of a gracious God to overcome the evil schemes of the enemy. You see, the enemy desires to use our grief to kill our faith, steal our joy, and destroy our testimony. Yet God promises to be with us and His promises are true.

How to Flourish in Loss:

1.  Communicate with those who love you. 

2.  Reach out for specific help. 

3.  Seek professional help if needed. 

4.  Join a church small group. 

5.  Cry when you need to. 

6.  Continue to develop your faith.  

Ponder:

What loss have you experienced? (i.e. loved one, job, property, friends, etc) What promises of Scripture can you stand on today?

Verses to Consider:

Nehemiah 4:19-20 

Psalm 31:9

Isaiah 53:3