“You can tell God how deeply it hurts and still trust Him with what comes next.” — Alma Ohene-Opare
Commentary:
Some disappointments hurt because of what we lost. Others hurt because of the future we had already begun to imagine. We pictured the relationship healing, the door opening, or the work finally paying off. Then another setback comes before we have had time to absorb the first, and it becomes easy to read the whole story through the hardest chapter. One loss tells us what happened. When losses pile up, we may start to believe they tell us what will always happen. That is a heavy conclusion to carry on a day when getting out of bed already took courage.
When Lazarus died, Jesus knew what He was about to do at the tomb. Still, He wept. I take comfort in that. The Savior could see a future that Mary and Martha could scarcely imagine, and He made room for their sorrow right where they stood. We can be just as honest with Him about our own disappointment. Some prayers begin with gratitude. Others begin with “Lord, I thought things would turn out differently.” Both can be spoken in faith.
Loss can narrow our sense of what is still possible. On some days, the freedom we have may come down to one small choice. We can answer the friend who keeps checking in, ask someone to sit with us, or give ourselves a night of rest before making a difficult decision. The loss may feel just as real tomorrow. Today, we can let someone help us carry it. And when someone else is hurting, we can follow Christ’s example by sitting with them long enough to hear what they miss before we try to tell them what to do.
Scripture:
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. — Psalm 34:18
Daily Application:
Name one loss plainly in prayer today, and ask Heavenly Father to help you see one step you have the strength to take.
Thank you for that reminder and encouragement.