The Whole Truth

SOME OF WHAT I EXPERIENCED ON MY JOURNEY THROUGH GRIEF LOSS - I experienced denial and had reactions of shock, thinking it can’t be true, and refusing to believe what happened. ANGER – My anger led to resentment and the resentment grew more anger, along with the many “why” questions. BLAME - I did not direct blame toward God or others; however, I did blame myself for many reasons. Feelings of anxiety, anger, instability, and irritation then surfaced. BARGAINING WITH GOD – I found myself bargaining with God to ease the pain. Thoughts such as, ‘God, if You would just heal my _________, then I’ll never _________ again.’ This is what I call a temporary truce with God. GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS One reason we know God hears our prayers is because He has promised to hear them through His Word. Even if He doesn’t always answer the way we think He should, Father God still hears us. “As for me, I call to God … and he hears my voice” (Psalm 55:16-17) . God doesn’t answer our prayers the way we think He should because He loves us and knows what’s best for us. It’s often said that God answers prayer in one of three ways: “Yes, no, or wait.” I have found this to be so true. While we see only part of the picture, God sees from beginning to the end. This is why we must seek His will when we pray, not our own. The Bible says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will … we have what we asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15) . So don’t be discouraged. Instead, thank God for His love for you, and learn to commit everything to Him in prayer. “Rejoice always, pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17) . IT TAKES TIME TO HEAL Healing from loss can take time; it is a journey. Please know that everyone experiences this journey Healing from loss can take time. It is a journey that everyone experiences differently, and there is no right or wrong way. While on this unique journey, we will come to know that many are facing the same struggles and that others who have been through it can truly help us. You’ll find that God’s timing is peculiar in its impact, as each day of the journey through grief is a little different. We all may move at different paces, but we must trust God to use time and grace to remove the sense of impossibility in life. David declares in Psalm 139:7-8 that there is nowhere he can go that God is not there with him. God is omnipresent. He is with each of us spiritually and emotionally. He is with us in whatever we are going through. Psalm 40:1-3 states, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.”

34 THEWHOLE TRUTH