Going there with God: Grief
The blogs in this series are meant to shepherd you as you invite God into some of the most vulnerable parts of your life and story. This week, we are inviting Him into our grief and broken hearts, and I imagine that a lot of this is difficult. Especially if you haven’t traversed these territories with Him before. And so each day, I am praying that God will give you supernatural courage to open your life to His tender loving care. These things are acts of courage, acts of strength. They are not little things. They are things that some people will never dare to do. But let’s dare this week, friends. All of us. Together.
As we meditate on Psalm 90 together for the next 5 days, I want to encourage you to engage this Scripture with your heart, soul, mind and strength. Each day’s meditation will focus on one of these areas.
- Day 1: My Mind
Find a quiet place where you can have a few minutes of alone time with God, free from distraction and disruption. Take a deep breathe in and out. Feel free to pray this prayer as you begin your time with God today, “Father, give me courage. Give me understanding. Help me today to understand even a small piece of the mystery of your ways. Amen.”
Read through Psalm 90 slowly. As you read, pay attention to the different thoughts that come into your mind. How does your mind react to what Moses writes? Where is your attention drawn? Notice and ask God to direct your thoughts.
Based on this Psalm, how do you interpret Moses thoughts about grief? What about God’s? Ask God to reveal to you any of your current attitudes and assumptions about grief (your own grief or someone else’s) that may be misaligned or misguided. If anything comes to mind, feel free to confess these attitudes and assumptions to God. How might God be inviting you to think differently about grief in light of this Psalm?
End your time by saying a short prayer of thanks to God that He is willing to teach us, and give us His divine wisdom and understanding. Invite Him to continue to help you understand the complexities of life and grief in light of His wisdom.
- Day 2: My Heart
Find a quiet place where you can have a few minutes of alone time with God, free from distraction and disruption. Take a deep breathe in and out. Feel free to pray this prayer as you begin your time with God today, “Father, give me courage. Give me compassion for myself and for others as we learn to grieve together. Amen.”
Read Psalm 90 slowly. Ask God to help you engage with your heart today as you read. What feelings and emotions rise to the surface as you read this Psalm? What specific words or phrases trigger these emotions? Take a moment to ask God why that is. Then ask Him to do His healing work on your broken heart.
As you look to the future, how can you give God greater access to your emotions when you endure grief or sorrow? What might that look like for you? How can you open up your heart to others who are grieving? Is there something you need to do today to take that step?
End your time by saying a short prayer of thanks to God that He has given us such a wide range of ways to feel. Invite Him to continue to bind up and heal hearts that are broken, and to direct you clearly when He wants to use you be part of that healing work for others.
- Day 3: My Body
Find a quiet place where you can have a few minutes of alone time with God, free from distraction and disruption. Take a deep breathe in and out. Feel free to pray this prayer as you begin your time with God today, “Father, give me courage. Amen.
Read through Psalm 90 noting anything Moses says that connects grief with the physical body. How does he talk about the physical body and its participation in grief?
Grieving with God means grieving with our whole selves, even our bodies. This isn’t something many of us know how to do, especially if our culture has never taught us physical expression of grief. Ask God to teach you what it would look like to grieve not only with your heart and mind, but also with your body.
Lastly, in your life thus far, how has God “established the work of your hands” (verse 17)?
End your time by giving thanks to God for the different ways that He has established the work of your hands, and for the ways that the physical body He’s given you has been a blessing to you.
- Day 4: My Soul
Find a quiet place where you can have a few minutes of alone time with God, free from distraction and disruption. Take a deep breathe in and out. Feel free to pray this prayer as you begin your time with God today, “Father, give me courage. Give me an eternal mindset as I go about my days. Amen.”
Read through Psalm 90. How is God speaking to you through this Psalm today? What things stand out to you that haven’t in previous readings? Or which things keep catching your attention every time you read it? Read verses 1-2 a few times over again. Why do you think Moses starts off with these thoughts?
Grief often happens when things end. Life, relationships, jobs; hope and dreams that are put to rest. In this life, things are guaranteed to have an end point. But not God. And not our souls. Those things are eternal.
Read verses 12-17 again. How might God be shaping your soul for eternity through the things you are experiencing in life? How can you encourage others as you journey together?
End your time by saying a short prayer to God. Ask Him to give you His eternal mindset in the midst of all life’s sorrows and griefs.
- Day 5: My Everything
Find a quiet place where you can have a few minutes of alone time with God, free from distraction and disruption. Take a deep breathe in and out. Feel free to pray this prayer as you begin your time with God today, “Father, give me courage. Grief is difficult, I need a heart of wisdom to navigate all of it. Amen.”
When we have invited God into our grief, it’s easier to accept the invitation to enter into the grief of others. It’s easier to hear what God is saying and see how He is working because we are familiar with His ways. We have developed hearts of wisdom. We are able to be present with others in their grief: heart, soul, mind and body – and it is here that we experience the joy of sharing with God in His healing work.
Read through Psalm 90 one last time. Do it slowly, stopping after each phrase or thought and letting the words sink in deep. Ask God if there is anything else He wants to share with you today. How else might He want to show up for you in your grief?
End your time by asking Him for opportunities to share in His work – how is He asking you to share in the sorrows of others? To say to them, “Jesus is with you, and so am I?”
Finish off your time by listening to this song, “My Everything” by Tim Hughes. Make it your prayer to God as you close your time with Him this week. Thank Him for being with you through today, and everyday.