This past weekend, my good friend and coworker experienced an unimaginable loss—her husband was taken from her in a tragic event. The pain in her voice as she received the news was gut-wrenching. It shook all of us who were there with her. As I stood by her, I could only offer what little comfort I could—holding her, praying, and letting my tears flow with hers.
In times like these, when grief feels suffocating, it’s hard to make sense of anything. In the midst of her pain and suffering, my friend cried out, “God, why have you done this to me?” It felt as if the agony expressed through her words cut through my soul. I think most of us, when faced with such deep sorrow, have asked that same question. When tragedy strikes, it can sometimes feel as though God has turned His back on us, leaving us to face the storm alone. We look to blame the One who has all power in His hands, but our Heavenly Father does not cause our heartache and loss. Psalm 84:11 (NLT) assures us, “For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” God loves us beyond what we can imagine. He cares for us and will comfort us through the heartbreak of loss.
It is not uncommon to question why such terrible things happen in our lives. Why does God allow suffering, especially when we feel we’ve done nothing to deserve it? This is a question many of us wrestle with in our darkest moments. The reality is that this world is broken, and it has been that way since Adam sinned. Jesus Christ tells us in John 10:10 (NKJV), “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” We live in a place where pain and loss are part of the human experience, because the enemy, satan, seeks to destroy. Sometimes, his attacks are devastating, and he is the cause of all our grief.
We can take comfort in knowing that God doesn’t cause our suffering. He doesn’t promise us a life without pain, but He is with us, and indeed is in us through Christ, working both in our internal and external reality to bring healing and comfort.
In our grief, the enemy whispers that we should turn away from the Lord, but we must reject this on every turn. Isaiah 40:29-31 (NLT) tells us, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” God’s power can renew us. He provides strength beyond our own. Jeremiah 32:17 (NLT) reminds us, “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your great power. Nothing is too hard for you!” God’s strength is unlimited. It may feel to us that death is final, but God is in control of everything, and He has the ability to handle every situation in a way that brings healing and restoration.
Psalm 146:9 (NLT) says, “The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but He frustrates the plans of the wicked.” The Lord does not forget those that are grieving. He sees the pain of the widowed and the orphaned, and He cares deeply. The relationship between a husband and wife is something God values greatly, so He understands the depth of the hurt we feel from this loss. Our grief may seem unbearable, but we can leave it in God’s extremely capable hands and trust in His strength and power.
Right now, my coworker can’t see it, but God wants her to draw closer to Him more than ever. In our weakest moments, His strength shines the brightest. We don’t always understand the “why,” but we can trust that God is with us in our pain, and He will never leave us. So, if you’re walking through grief, remember that God sees you. He hasn’t forgotten you. He is with you in the pain, and He will hold you up. Trust that in His time, He will heal your broken heart and guide you through the darkness into a place of peace. You can depend on Him, now and always. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Comfort for the Widowed”, written by KLizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2024. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.