Looking UpSample

Grief is a Tender Thing

When my grandfather died, my grief felt like a bruise. I was suddenly tender all over, leaking tears because of small things—everything from sentimental commercials to scents that reminded me of him. When we mourn the loss of a loved one, grief is a natural response, but did you know that it is also a healthy response to other types of loss too?

Perhaps you’re grieving the death of a dream in this season. Maybe you’re grieving the harsh ways we treat one another, the diagnosis of a chronic illness, or a frustrating setback at work. Scripture gives us a beautiful invitation for how we might respond to our grief: the spiritual practice of lament.

In lament, we turn our grief and sadness back to God in prayer. We don’t need to sanitize our words or our strong emotions—God welcomes our full selves. We are given a picture of this type of prayer in many psalms, including today’s reading. The psalmist paints a picture of his grief, using the language of an owl in the ruins. An owl alone.

After you read today’s Scripture, you may wish to take a few moments to name your griefs before God. There is no loss too small, no heartache too insignificant. God loves to draw near to us.