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Reflection

When you are grieving

A short reflection for the middle of it, which is where most of it is.

Grief is not a problem to be solved, and this is not going to try. It is worth saying only a few things, and the first is that Scripture never tells grieving people to hurry.

Psalm 34:18KJV

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Near is the claim. Not fixing, not explaining, not yet. An entire book of the Bible is a funeral lament with no resolution offered until most of the way through, and even then it is held quietly.

Lamentations 3:22–23KJV

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Written in the middle of a ruined city, not afterwards.

New every morning is not optimism. It is the smallest possible unit of hope: enough for one day, which is what the person writing it could manage.

If you need more than this

Grief that you cannot function alongside, or that turns towards harming yourself, needs a person and not a page. Speak to your doctor, or to someone you trust, today rather than eventually.

A prayer

God, I am not going to pretend this is fine. Stay near. That is all I am asking for today.

Pray about this

Take a next step

God in the Middle of This

Short steps for when things are difficult. Nothing long, nothing demanding. Scripture to hold on to and honest words to pray.

See this journey