Hope for the Grieving

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

In Honor and Memory of My Wife of 27.5 Years (1969-1996)

Moving on from widowhood is a heartwrenching process of breaking the bonds of committment and covenant to another human being who was once one with you. It is a time of brokenness, grief, sorrow, mourning, sadness, darkness of the soul, doubt, despair, depression, hopelessness, fear, tears, and loss of control. However, it is also a time of new beginnings as is the butterfly. One can isolate at times and be a living memorial to what was, and one can accept the challenge to move on all within the same day. This widely fluctuating stance can occur over and over again for as long as it takes. The heart breaks into thousands of pieces and then those pieces shatter some more. The wound in the heart never fully heals, but opens less and less frequently with time. However, one never 'gets over' the loss. The emotional, physical, and spiritual turmoil that is experienced compares with what the blameless Job experienced. Hopefully, the resultant fruit over years of recovery will be to move on in the joy of the Lord with acceptance of one's circumstances as allowed by God. This does not mean that all questions will be answered, but it does mean that submission to the authority of God can bring peace until those questions are answered when standing before Him.

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Psalm 23
Thou are with me, Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me.

Psalm 31:24
Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand.

Isaiah 54:10
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my convenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

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