Life can be so hard, can’t it?

I recently lost someone very dear to me.  Navigating the grief that has accompanied that loss has been difficult, to say the least.

I have found myself seesawing between periods of quiet reflection and bouts of tears.  The emotional ups and downs have left me feeling physically numb and mentally drained. 

It’s okay… 

It was the permission I needed to hear the Holy Spirit whisper to me in His kind and reassuring way.

It’s okay to cry.

It’s okay to feel empty.

It’s okay to not be able to think straight.

It’s okay…

Anyone who has traveled the path of loss, sorrow, and grief knows how overwhelmingly lonely it can feel.  The swirling vortex of emotions leaves you navigating a deep ache and a running slideshow of memories that no one else can possibly understand – try as they may.

Proverbs describes it perfectly in chapter 14, verse 10, “The heart knows its own bitterness…”

It’s truly an isolated place…but, for the company of One.

God the Father understands grief firsthand.  Psalm 56 tells of just how intimately He walks through it with us.

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book.” (vs. 8 NLT)

~He is there in the midst of all our breakdowns – when strength fails and we have no words, only tears. 

~He is there when we can’t make sense of anything at all. 

~He is there in our complete, utter, and desperately weak state of humanity. 

~He is there collecting our tears, comforting us, and reassuring us, “It’s okay…”

Do you find yourself navigating grief right now?  Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the present state of our country, no one can walk through grief with you more intimately than He can.

Lean in close to Jesus today, friend, and let Him collect your tears, walk with you through your sorrows, and comfort you as only He can.

Until next time, Grace and Glory!