This has been a season of grief for me and my family. Having lost our parents within 10 months of each other has been a difficult walk. I related with Psalm 77. Being in the midst of grief we become numb and troubled. We are a mix bag of emotions.
C.S. Lewis says, “No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.”
Merriam-Webster defines grief as deep and poignant distress caused by someone's death; a cause of such suffering; and Trouble or Annoyance.
As I read and reread Psalm 77, I wept, I felt comfort and I sensed peace, which is something I have not experienced for some time now. I love how the psalmist poured out his feelings to the Lord. When we’re tormented by our sorrow we feel alone, not heard, our heart is deeply troubled and sadly we feel far from being comforted. For me, in my grief, I have felt too numb and have been too lost to pray. I love what verse 3 says, “I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help.” That is exactly how I have felt through this season. Then I read verses 11 & 12, which say, “But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.” We can be assured that His ways are Holy. Verse 14 & 15 says, “You are the God of great wonders!” You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Oh how I love the Lord. I thank God that he is with me every step of the way. I have come to learn through my grief that I am only alone when I choose it. HE waits on me. He is a merciful God who longs for me to invite him in, to meet me where I am, comfort me and carry my burdens.
We will all experience grief in our life time. This I know to be true, the loss will hurt and the struggle will be real, thankfully a new beginning awaits us. A friend recently shared this saying with me, “Grief is the price we pay for loving deeply.“ If I love so deeply I can only imagine how much the Lord loves, Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”