Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. – (Matthew 5:4, NIV)
Great blessings belong to those who are sad now. God will comfort them. – (Matthew 5:4, ERV)
You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. – (Matthew 5:4, MSG)
One of the hardest things we face in life is loss. Though we all know that not one of us will live forever, there is always sorrow in the passing of those whom we love, especially when the loss comes far sooner than anticipated. Mourning is a challenging space for me, as I am not an external emoter. I feel deeply, yet seldom allow myself to give room for tears to escape. It is not intentional, but rather is a well-developed defense mechanism. As only God does, He has placed me in communities with loving, tender hearts, that create safe space to process however my heart needs to do so. For me, there is comfort in simply writing things down. In fact, that is often how I discover how I am actually feeling. Words in writing seem to bypass the filter in my mind and simply land on the page as they are. That being said, I guess my point is that despite my grieving in this space of loss, I am grateful for the comfort and kindness that I am blessed to have surrounding me. Additionally, the one whom my heart aches for the most, is clearly surrounded in community too. Even when life is hard, God is so good. May we ever seek the Lord in our spaces of loss and of blessing, for He loves us and provides safe space to process whatever our heart is holding.
In spaces of loss,
Where our hearts need mourn;
The Lord’s ever near,
To mend what is torn.
He blesses our hearts,
Surrounds us with peace;
Makes love tangible,
As our hearts release.
Release the heartache,
Place all in His hands;
His grace holds us up,
As we trust His plans.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that in our spaces of loss and mourning, You come near and bless us with Your comfort. Forgive us for the times we delay in turning to You in our grief. Teach us to trust and lean on You, for You bless us with Your comfort and love in all things. Show us how to love, support and comfort those around us in the same way that You support and comfort us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we thank You for Your blessings in our spaces of mourning, and for the communities that You place us in. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. – 1 Chronicles 16:34
Revelations In Writing 