When Grief Overwhelms Your Heart

Death is hard. That’s why I want to tell you that you aren’t alone, although I won’t deny it’s difficult to face. I’ve been there, wondering why such an unexpected tragedy would happen to a godly, God fearing man. God answered my question, and I pray what He revealed to me helps you as you navigate the hard, yet necessary process of grief.

Jesus got me through every bit of the pain facing the death of my grandpa. No one in my family could have helped or began to heal my grief like Jesus did. These situations literally break you down to your knees, but the Bible promises that God will fully build us back up in faith if we allow God to!

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” -Deuteronomy 31:8

I love this verse and its message: God won’t ever leave our side or let His guard down on us. I got through deep pain of loss with God, but it still wasn’t easy. Grief is mean’t to be used to heal and grow in faith. I had a countless number of sleepless nights wondering what good would come from the death of someone I loved and cherished. Jesus’ followers likely thought the same thing as they saw Jesus on the cross, “What good could ever come from this?” When we choose to have faith and believe, we see how what the Devil planned for evil, God made for good. Right then, God spoke to me saying, “I've got this Ansley, you've got to trust me.”

When you look at Romans 8:28, it says that God will make beauty out of our ashes and the storms that bring devastation into our lives. Death breaks you down and many people allow death to lead to doubt of Gods character. I’ve walked through this myself, and now I see that God can and will save you and make something beautiful through your pain. He did it for me and witnessing that transformation in mine and my family’s hearts was the biggest blessing.

God isn’t afraid of our hard “why God” questions. He doesn’t shame us for our questions, He welcomes them and gladly answers them.

Asking “why God” isn’t a bad thing like many people make it seem. I won’t deny it is a hard question to ask, but I know that God wants to answer those hard questions. God isn’t afraid of our hard “why God” questions. I thought for the longest time it made me a “bad Christian,” but when my grandfather died, I felt like I had no other choice than to ask that same question. That’s when I met Jesus, He answered my question. God didn’t shut me down or shame me for my question, He welcomed my question and gladly answered it.

Despite the pain, this loss was in preparation for all the greater things God had planned for me. Right now, I am about to lose my someone else so close to me, but God has prepared me for this. While I am still overwhelmed with sadness, I know that God uses everything for good. Psalm 34:18 tells us that God is close to the brokenhearted and that he saves those in a crushed spirit. Believe me: God will save you from any hard situation and he will heal you from the hurt.

Through many nights of journaling and talking to God just like a friend, He taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my life. Friend, God sees and hears your cries. It took me 2 years to see the goodness of losing my grandpa, but now I see how God was faithful to answer my cry.

5 Songs You Need To Hear If You’re Battling Loss:

• Why God - Austin French

• Rescue - Lauren Daigle

• Fighting For Me - Riley Clemmons

• Home - Chris Tomlin

• There Will Be A Day - Jeremy Camp

About the author: Ansley Kathrine

Althought Ansley Kathrine doesn't have her own ministry you could follow to support, you can support her with your prayers as she learns and obeys Gods call for her life - through pursuing relationships with those around her, in goal of shedding light on what it looks like to know and be in a relationship with the Father.