Loss shakes our lives. It affects our relationships.
People respond to us and our grief in a variety of ways. Some people, even close friends, might disappear from our lives. To say this is painful is an understatement.
I would like to share with you a chapter from Walking with God Through Grief: Devotions and Affirmations for Grieving Hearts that addresses this issue. I hope you find this devotional helpful and healing.
PEOPLE ARE DISAPPEARING
I’ve been frustrated with people lately.
No one seems to get it. People are disappearing.
Some distance themselves. Some disappear.
This hurts.
As has been said before, this world is tough on grieving hearts.
Many times, the people around us will not support us in the ways we would like. Some will distance themselves. Some will disappear.
Some will say and do things that are not helpful.
We can get frustrated. Anger stirs in us. How dare they treat us this way?
Then it dawns on us. They don’t get it. They don’t understand because they can’t. This isn’t their loss.
People will disappoint us. We will disappoint others. When it comes to our grief, only the Lord truly, completely understands.
The Psalm writer Asaph, who served under King David over 3000 years ago, wrote the following in Psalm 73:
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Asaph wrote this at a time when some of the people around him were not helpful. In fact, they were disruptive and unkind. Asaph takes this challenging situation to the Lord.
The Lord is always with us. He has us. He guides us in His wisdom and power. He is faithful. Because of Jesus, we look forward to a wonderful future with Him.
The Lord understands. Jesus gets it. He created you. He knows you. He walks with you.
He knows every thought, emotion, motive, and action. He sees and knows your heart – completely and perfectly. He alone knows the depth of your pain and distress.
Others don’t understand. That’s why the grief journey is so lonely.
Yet One travels with you who knows and meets your every need. He is always with you. He holds you. He guides you.
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
(Psalm 73:23-24, NIV)
Lord, I receive the truth that You know me
completely and understand me perfectly – far
better than I know or understand myself.
I choose to cling to You.
I release others from the expectation of
supporting me the way I would like.
I look to You. I choose to believe that all my
needs are met in You, and that I will experience
this as I walk with You in faith.
In Jesus’ name…
Affirmation: I will release others from the expectation of supporting me in the way I would like. I will lean on the Lord.
The above is an excerpt from Walking with God Through Grief, which is part of the God and Grief Series.
Question: Have some people disappeared from your life? What has this been like for you? Please feel free to share using the comment section below.
